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COLLECTANEA BRADFORDIANA: 

A 

COLLECTION OF PAPERS 

ON THE 

HISTORY OF BRADFORD, 

AND 

THE NEIGHBOTTEHOOD. 



COLLATED, AND EDITED, WITH NOTES, 
BY ABRAHAM HOLRQYEK 




PLAN OF BRADFORD, MADF. ABOUT THE YEAR 1700. 



SALT AIRE: 

Abraham Holroyd, Bookseller and Stationer, No. 30, Victoria Road. 

1873, 



THIS BOOK 



IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 



TO SIR TITUS SALT, BARONET 



OF CROW NEST. AND SALTAIRE: 



BY THE COMPILER, 



Biltjjre, Amil 2nd, 1873. 



TO THE HEADER. 



i9r 

The delay which has occurred in completing this work needs some 
explanation ; and is due, especially to my old friends and subscribers, 
who bought the parts as they came out. The plan of re -publishing in 
this form, was begun at the suggestion and desire of my dear friend, the 
late John James, F.S.A. ; the historian of Bradford. Indeed, nearly 
all the papers included were pointed out as fitting and suitable, by him- 
self. The notes, and other addenda, are of course from my own pen. 
On the 4th of July, 1867, death took him from my sight, this was a sad 
blow to me, as I relied much oh him for assistance and advice. In 
1868, one year after the death of my friend, circumstances over which I 
had no control obliged me to leave Bradford, so dear to me, and so linked 
with all my early associations. I received a notice to quit the shop I 
occupied in Westgate, and such was the crowded state of the town at the 
time, that I could not obtain another. Hearing that building was going 
on at the town of Saltaire, I applied in my dilemma to Sir Titus Salt, 
and he very kindly placed a cottage house at my disposal, until he could 
get a shop ready for me, For this I waited seventeen months, and when 
I did enter again on business I had to create it. But time, patience? 
and perseverance will accomplish a great deal. When I saw my way 
clear, I determined to publish first of all in Saltaire, an account of 
" Saltaire and its Founder." Of this book I have already caused to be 
printed 2,500 copies. Two other editions are going on, one of them 
illustrated. I have also collected and printed all the " Dialect Poems of 
BIr. Benjamin Preston/' my old friend and neighbour of Gilstead, but 
formerly of Bradford. I have also collected specimens of nearly one 
hundred writers of my native county. This latter work is entitled : — "A 
Garland of Poetry by Yorkshire Authors:" and is dedicated to my 
esteemed Mend, George Ackroyd, Esq., of Manningham, Bradford ; a 
keen lover of the beautiful in literature. 



I would here express my obligations for help rendered by the late 
Charles Forrest, Esq , of Lofthouse, near Wakefield ; a genial and 
amiable friend ; and an excellent antiquary ; who died on the 24th of 
October, 1871, in the 66th year of his age. 

In closing this somewhat personal apology I only wish further to 
say, that the wood-cut plan of Bradford, on the title page, was given to 
ine by Mr. John James, and he believed it correct ; as it resembled a 
view of the town now in the British Museum, taken about the same time 
(1700) by Mr. Warburton, Somerset Herald. The streets shown are 
Kirkgate, Ivegate, Westgate, and Silsbridge Lane. The original plan is 
in the possession of Edward Hailstone, Esq., formerly of Bradford, but 
now of Walton Hall, near Wakefield. 

ABRAHAM HOLBOYD. 

Saltaihl. 

xlpril 2nd, 1878. 



COLLECTANEA BRADFORDIANA i 

PAPERS ON THE HISTORY OF BRADFORD 
AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



The science of history is perhaps the highest of all the sciences, inasmuch as its 
object is to make us acquainted with man in the exercise of his most divine faculties, 
\vhether for good or for evil, with the progress of his mental culture, in a word, with the 
developement of his destiny; it prepares him for the future by the knowledge of the past. 
Moreover, man seems to have a natural tendency to the study of history, he seeks with 
eagerness to trace the revolutions of peoples and kingdoms which are known to him, he is 
anxious to become acquainted with the history of his own country, and to restrict still 
more the field of enquiry, who is there who is not curious to learn something of those 
who have inhabited in former times the place in which he was born, or in which he lives, 
and of the events in which they were engaged? 

Thomas Wright. 

INTRODUCTION. 



THE BRIGANTES. . . 

Who were the first settlers in Yorkshire, of 
what race were they, aud from what land did 
they come hither? Were they savages in 
the lowest signification of the word, or did 
they possess some of the arts which make 
human life bearable? Were they clothed in 
the skins of beasts, and did they paint, tat- 
too, and ornament their bodies after the 
fashion of some of the tribes of other nations, 
their food the produce of the thick tangled 
forests, and their habitations made of wat- 
tled boughs with the bare ground for a floor? 
Had they traditions, had they minstrels, and 
did their Saga's contain their own rude his- 
tory? These are questions which can pro- 
bably never be answered by the most diligent 
archaeologist either in our own or future times. 
The mists which cover the remote past of 
Britain can never be rolled away. God the 
Creator alone knoweth these things, and 
with Him these secrets are eternally hid. 
We must therefore be content, and rest satis- 
fied with the little which can be learned from 
our written records. 

The original, or first inhabitants of York- 
shire, were perhaps the Brigantes, (1) a tribe 



(!) The original inhabitants of Britain 
are supposed to have been a branch of the 
primitive family. Julius Caesar tell us that 
when he landed on this coast there were at 
least two different races of people dwelling 
here. The inlanders were those whom fame 



who were known by this name to the Greeks, 
who recorded what the earliest Phoenician 
navigators reported of their discoveries. 

reported to have been natives of the soil. 
The sea coast was peopled with Belgians; or 
the Cymrys and the Celts. The Greeks 
called them Cimmerians, the Latins, Cimbri. 
There were also Celts, Galatians, or Gauls. 
Cimmerians was a general name for both 
people. We have a trace in the name of 
Cymry of Wales, and their language called 
Cwmraig. Also in the w T ord Cumberland, 
the part of England retained by them last 
when the remaining districts yielded to the 
Saxons. The Scotch Highlanders call them- 
selves Gaels, and their language, Gaelic, de- 
rived from Celt. If the letter C in the words 
Cimbr-i and Celt be used hard, they sound 
like Gomer and Galli. Hollinshed says that 
Samothes, the son of Japhet, was the first 
ruler of Britain, and his descendants retained 
the sovereignty of this island 341 years. 
Albin, the son of Neptune, (whence the name 
Albion,) supplanted this dynasty, and his 
posterity held the power over it for 600 years, 
when Brutus took possession of it, whence 
the name Britain. A descendant of his 
named Ebraucus, is said to have built the 
city of York, A.M. 2983, or B.C. 1021. 
The line of country north of Trent, and 
south of the Tyne, and from sea to sea, was 
inhabited by a British tribe called the Brig- 
antes. The east coast of Yorkshire, now 
called Holderness, was inhabited by a smaller 
tribe called the Parasoi. 



Hulroyd's Collectanea, No. 1. 



THE BRIGANTES. 



Mr. Phillips (1) says, "This general title 
merely marked their locality, just as Gauls 
belonged to the country called Gallia, and 
Germans to the regions beyond the Rhine; 
it was not a distinction of race. Modern 
writers who call the Britons Celts, have 
generally in view to separate them as a race 
by this term from the Teutons; and those 
who designate them as Cymri, claim them 
as specially the ancestors of the Welsh. But 
these names were never applied by their 
contemporaries to the Britons; nor can we 
by their use determine the problem of their 
early migrations into these islands. Strabo 
(Book iv) indeed points out the physical re- 
semblances which they manifest to the Celts, 
and notices some curious agreements in the 
habits of the two nations. The Cymri, as 
they now appear in Wales, have not the 
physical characters of the Cymbri, whose 
language may perhaps be reasonably ad- 
mitted to have been of the Tuetonic class, 
while the Cymri have preserved one branch 
of the Celtic tongue." 

As their name imports the Brigantes were 
'highlanders' and dwelt in the hilly country 
towards the south of Britain, and had sea- 
ports both on the east and west coasts ; thus 
extending from the German ocean to the 
Irish sea. Five hundred years before the 
birth of Christ, they were visited by the ad- 
venturous sailors of the Mediteranean, 
Spain, Gaul, and Germany (2). In the year 
55 before Christ, Julius Caesar the first Ro- 
man emperor invaded Britain, and from that 
date England has a chronology, and a his- 
tory, and we begin to know something defi- 



(1 ) The Rivers, Mountains, and Sea- coast 
of Yorkshire. With Essays on the climate, 
scenery, and ancient inhabitants of the 
county. 36 plates. By John Phillips, 
F.R.S., London. John Murray, 1853. 

(2) The British isles, some of them at 
least, were known to the Phoenicians 1,000 
years before the Christian era. The Phoe- 
nicians came to Cornwall and the Scilly isles 
for lead and tin, in exchange for which they 
left salt, skins and bronze. Herodotus, who 
lived in the fifth century before Christ, is the 
first wiiter who has made mention of the 
word Britain with definity, but the terms in- 
cluded the whole group of islands in this 
archipelago. Csesar was the first to restrict 
the name to Albion (i. e., England and Scot- 
land); and Ptolemy, in the second Christian 
century, calls Ireland Little Britain., and 
Albion he calls Great Britain. The latter 
term baa been revived since the Legislative 
Uniouof the two countries in 1707. 



nite about the oldest inhabitants of these 
districts. But on this subject I cannot do 
better than copy from Mr. Phillips. " Their 
principal settlements appear to have been in 
Yorkshire ; Isu Brigantum, the port or water 
station of the tribe, being at or near Aid- 
borough — the Roman Isurium But there 
appears reason to inclnde in their territory 
the elevated parts of Derbyshire, and thus 
we should assign to this most numerous na- 
tion a great part of the large area which 
extends from the Trent to the Tyne : (1) 
there is no other important tribe mentioned 
between these rivers, except the Parisoi, in 
the south-east of Yorkshire. " 
" From this large country the Roman com- 
manders, in the course of thirty years fre- 
quent and often bloody wars, had torn away 
the southern portions, and at last the whole 
became a conquered province, subject to 
tribute, encircled by camps and travel sed by 
military roads, (2) and honoured by the births, 
lives, and deaths of emperors and tyrants." 
" Nor can we separate this people as known 



(1) Tacitus mentions only three cities 
(properly so called,) in Britain, viz. : Camo- 
lodunum, (Colchester,) Londinium, (London,) 
and Verulanum, (St. Albans.) Ptolemy, 
writing half a century later, mentions nii.e 
in the Brigantian territory alone. On the 
eastern side of the vale of York, the dry 
Wold hills were thickly peopled along their 
edges. The country all round Malton was 
the most populous part of Yorkshire, and so 
it remained till a comparatively late period : 
the range of villages at the foot of the Wolds 
from Brough on the Humber to Malton, 
Hunmanby, and Filey; and again from 
Scarborough, along the south ridire of the 
high moorlatr's, by Pickering, Helrasley, 
&c, to Stockton-on-Tees, was most probably 
of British date and origin. 

(2) British roads must not be confounded 
with those which were of Roman construc- 
tion, though it is highly probable that many 
of the Roman roads were merely adopted 
British ones. The way by which the two 
maybe distinguished is the following. Brit- 
ish roads were generally made on the level 
of the country, and sometimes much below 
it; whereas the Roman roads were elevated 
above the surface of the adjoining land, an I 
hence called high roads. The British roads 
were, in general, not paved with stone. Ro- 
man roads are known to have been raised, 
and in many places with great labour, and 
to have been constructed of chalk pebbles 
or gravel, while the most important were 
paved with stone. 



THE BRIGANTES. 



to the Romans from any earlier and more 
strictly aboriginal race. It is true that our 
tumuli disclose remains of Britons very un- 
equally advanced in the arts of peace or 
war — men who tipped their arrows with 
flint, and employed hammers of stone, as well 
as others who were acquainted with bronze 
and iron. But the ages of stone, bronze, and 
iron, however distinctly they may appear to 
be in Scandinavia, are not so firmly separa- 
ted here, as to giving any well-grounded 
hope of thus defining a Pre-Brigantine race. 
Nor have the few examples of authentic 
British crania which have been procured by 
the opening of the tumuli (1) yet afforded 
any clear testimony of successive races of 
early British inhabitants. The Brigantes 
may have been settlers among an earlier 
population, but we have no sure evidence of 
it, and the facts known appear quite recon- 
eileable with the hypothesis of gradual 
change in the condition and customs of a 
long settled and numerous tribe." 

These ancient inhabitants of north York- 
shire have left many traces of their existence 
as a people, in our neighbourhood. If we 
take a few of the names of the rivers for an 
example, we find that Aire is from Air, 
British bright : Arw, in Gaelic, rapid stream ; 
and these are still the characteristics of this 
river when unpolluted by the filth ejected 
from the manufactories on its banks. With- 
out knowing the above fact, the writer of 
this in a "Song to the Aire," penned some 
years ago, used these words : — 

' And willows low bent in thy bright waters 
lave.' 

Thus showing how the character of a 
stream affects all minds. Calder is the 



(1) These were hillocks of earth or stones, 
and sometimes both, thrown up over the re- 
mains of the dead, to the height of from three 
to ten feet, of diameter three, ten, or twenty 
j^ards. Barrows are of earth, cairns are of 
stone. 1'hese last often made of a pyramidal 
form. Here we have a trace of the pyramids 
of Egypt. In Scotland, in cairns have been 
found small bags of rushes containing the ash- 
es of children ; also containing small beetles. 
The body was usually placed with the head 
to the south or north, and not to the rising 
sun, as was the Greek custom. Usually the 
body was laid on the back, or on one side, 
with the legs drawn up, and the arms bent 
so that the elbows and knees touched or ap- 
proached each other. The body was often 
laid in a stone cist-vaen or wooden coffin. 



same as Cell-dwr, British; Coel-dwr, Erse, 
Woody Water; and the country through 
which that river flows is well known to have 
been formerly covered with thick forests. 
The prevalence of such names as the follow- 
ing sufficiently prove this to have hi en the 
case. For instance, Outwood, "Whitwood, 
Woodlesford, Woodchurcb, Oakeushaw and 
Ackworth (from the oak), Alderthorpe ^from 
the elder), Birkenshaw (from the birch), 
Hollinthorpe (from the holly), Hasle, Thorn- 
hill, Elmley, and many others. 1 will name 
one other river, the Wharfe. In Gaelic it 
is Garbh, rough; Garw, British. ^Verbeia 
of the Romans) Penyghent is a British name, 
meaning head of the prominence (1). Bail- 
don, Mr. Phillips supposes may be Beal-don, 
the hill of God. Billing, a hill near Raw- 
den, was probably Bel ing, Mr. John James 
in his History of Bradford, page 25, submits 
to antiquarians and philologists, whether 
Beldon Hill, in the township of Horton, has 
not received its name from the circumstance 
of the Beltan fires of old having been kindled 
on its top. Beldon means in British, head 
or chief hill, and it was customary for the 
ancient Britons to light the Beltan fires upon 
the high places every midsummer day. 

The dwellings of the Brigantes are scat- 
tered over the whole cf Yorkshire. They 
were various, (2) and the existing specimen 



(1) The language of the Brigantes is still 
preserved in many of our present names of 
rivers, mountains, places, &c. For instance, 
in the names of rivers. Aire, is from a Brit- 
ish word meaning "bright;" Don, or Dun, 
is from a British word meaning "dark" or 
" dusky ;" Derwent is from a British word, 
Dunwer, meaning " fair- water ; " "W harfe, is 
from a British word meaning " rough." As 
to mountains, we have Pen-y-ghent, Pen- 
hill, Pendle, &c; "pen" meaning "hill," 
and sometimes corrupted into " ben." Thus 
we have Pen-y-ghent, " the hill of storms; " 
"Whernside, "the head of alders;" More- 
cambe, "the great hollow," or "bay;" Cli- 
theroe, " a hollow," or " rock by the water;" 
Lancaster, " a stream of water. " 

(2) The houses of the Britons were taper- 
ing huts, constructed of wood on a circular 
basis. There were three varieties. I. The 
first are found in the north-eastern and south- 
eastern districts. The ground was excavated 
from six to eight or sixteen to eighteen feet 
in diameter, with a raised border, and three 
to five feet deep. Over this was placed a 
roof of branches, or rushes, and the doorway 
left on the side removed from the wind. The 
fire was made in the centre, of which traces 



THE BRIGANTES. 



nearest to Bradford is perhaps the one on 
the top of Ingleborough, near Ingleton. 
Mr. James thinks that the Brigantes had a 
town on the site of Bradford. He further 
adds that the historian Whitaker of Man- 
chester says, that in these northern parts, 
the towns of the ancient Britons were 
generally in the hollows of the valleys, 
either upon the margin of one stream or 
c influence of two, for the convenience of 
water, and security from winds. Such a spot 
is the site of Bradford. A Brigantiau town 
was merely a collection of huts in the midst 
of a forest, defended with a barrier formed 
of trees felled around, or circumscribed with 
a ditch. Sometimes their dwellings were in 
the form of pits from six to eight, or even 
sixteen to eighteen feet in diameter, with a 
raised border, and of the depth of three, 
four or five feet. Over these pits we must 
suppose a conical roof to have been formed, 
made weather-pioof by wattling, a covering 
of rushes, or sods. Others were oval or cir- 
cular rings, slightly excavated on the heath 
or drier parts of commons. 

Among the remains of these aborgines are 
their tumuli, or burial places of their dead. 
Raths or mounds of a larger size than their 
tumuli, were probably intended as places for 
protection, as forts. They occur at Loft- 
house, Kildale, on Danby Moor, at Kippax, 
Barwick in Elmet, near Leeds, and at Wes- 
tow. Camps (1) and dykes, evidently of 

may be seen in many of those now existing 
at Egton Grange, near Whitby, on Danby 
Moor and on Roseberry Topping. 2. The 
second kind has been found south of the vil- 
lage of Skipwith, near Riecall, south east of 
York. These were circular or oval, slightly 
excavated, and the space within a little 
raised by throwing up inward the excavated 
earth. 3. The third kind we find on the 
summit of Ingleborough, where there are 
huts formed by stones in rings, a low wall, 
and roof formed by inclined rafters, and 
covered with boughs, rushes, &c, the types 
of our modern cottages. 

(I ) These, which generally consisted of a 
circle of stones, thrown up on some elevated 
ground, are to be found in many parts of 
Yorkshire. I might instance one on an ele- 
vated ground looking over Westerdale, in 
Danby Dale, and evidently a look-out to 
protect the not-distant British village on 
Danby Moor. Other instances occur to me, 
as for instance, the camps at Hutton-Ambo, 
Langton, Thornthorpe, &c. These are 
readily to be discovered, and their use so 
easily discerned, that 1 need not ad 1 any- 
thing l>y way of description. 



Brigantine origin, yet remain, Dykes (1) 
are high walls or long mounds of earth, and 
were probably fortified places. Mr. Phillips 
also enumerates stone monuments, (2) circles 
or rings, and British pottery (3) It is also 
instructive to learn that the use of money 
was known to the Britons, and that coins of 
tin were used by these primitive people sev- 
eral hundreds of years before the birth of 
Christ, (4) and it is more than probable that 
commerce was common among them from the 
earliest times, though necessarily in a rude 
and limited form. 

These people were held entirely under 
subjection by their priests, called Druids, 



(1) These are earthworks thrown up for 
defence. Sometimes they are double or 
triple. "We have instances at Acklam 
Wold, Garraby Hill, Ampleforth, &c. 

(2) We have instanses of these in the 
"Long Stone" near the British village on 
Danby Moor ; — in a stone between Hunsley 
Beacon and Drewton; — in a stone called by 
the name of St. Austin ;— and, probably, in 
the Rudstone, at Rudstone, near Bridlington. 
There is also a fine sample of these ancient 
erections in our own neighbourhood, viz., at 
Harden Moor, near Bingley, where two large 
stones, commonly called " The Druid's Al- 
tar," are to be seen. One of the stones was 
probably used for receiving the fire, while on 
the other the victim was laid. 

(3) The chief are cinerary urns, and other 
urns found in tumuli; often two feet high, 
made of clay, baked in the sun, and slightly 
reddened on the outside. They seem to have 
been formed without the use of the potters 
wheel, and therefore are not very regular in 
shape. The ornament is usually taken from 
the form of interlacing twigs. 

(4) At what period the British began to 
make use of coins is a point involved in great 
obscurity. Very rude coins made of tin, the 
metal for which the island was celebrated in 
early times, are occasionally found, some of 
which perhaps belong to the fourth century 
before Christ. But probably they do not be- 
long to the earliest epoch, when coins had 
au impression only on one side. Some bear 
the name, " Camolodunum," the modern 
Colchester, and " Verulamium," the modem 
St. Aibans. On British coins are found 
T A S C. This was the abbreviation of the 
name, Tasciovanus, king of Verulamium 
about the time of Tiberius. Also S E G O, 
son of Tasciovanus. Also C V N O, or 
Cunobelinus the King Cymbeline, of Shake- 
speare. On the reverse, C A M V, or Ca- 
molodunuin, or Colchestct, where minted. 



THE BRIGANTES. 



men, who although sunk into the very depths 
of heathenism, yet claimed for themselves 
and their order a superiority bordering on 
the divine (1). Superstition in its worst 



(1) It is a subject of deep interest how 
far the aborigines of Britain were a branch 
of the primitive and patriarchal familj r . 
That this was the case is supported by the 
Triads. The religion of the Druids seems 
to have been much more in conformity with 
that of Abraham and the other patriarchs 
than any other system of heathenism was. 
The opinion of the Druids as to the nature 
of God, was expressed by a phrase which 
may be thus translated, — " God cannot be 
matter ; what is not matter, must be God." 
That they regarded God as a Supreme Spirit 
as disengaged from matter, as He was exalted 
above all resemblance to eternal things, is 
clear from this Triad : — " There are three 
primary Unities, and more than one cannot 
exist; one God, one Truth, and one point 
of Liberty ; and this is where all opposites 
equally equi-preponderate. " The poetry 
of the bards was often very beautiful alike 
in rhythm and moral sentiment. Look, for 
instance, at their well known Triads. In the 
first two lines the bard describes some ob- 
jects that were visible in nature, or actions 
that were well known to every one ; and in 
the third, introduces some precept of mor- 
ality, thus: — "Snow a robe o'er hamlet 
flings; in the wood the raven sings; too 
much sleep no profit brings." — "See the 
forest white with snows ! hark ! the s-torm of 
winter blows: nature beyond learning goes." 
— " Fair the moon's resplendent bow, shining 
o'er the mountain snow : peace the wicked 
never know." — The Druids, in their temples 
and in their worship under oaks, imitated 
the early mode of worship. As to worship, 
ping under oaks, we know that " Abraham 
planted a grove in Beersheba, and called 
there on the name of the Lord, the ever- 
lasting God. " — Gen. xxi. 33. We have the 
same in the case of the Druids, who worship- 
ped under oaks, hence their name Druid. In 
the earliest ages all the places of worship 
had some reference to the garden of paradise. 
Hence we find everywhere, in the description 
of the first sacred places, some allusion to 
the scene of man's temptation and fall,— a 
garden or grove, with two or three trees in 
the midst, watered by a river, and enclosed 
to prevent unhallowed intrusion. The Priest- 
hood was divided into three orders. 1. 
Druids, dressed in white, emblematic of truth 
and holiness. 2. Bards, dressed in sky blue, 
the colour of nature, emblematic of learn- 



form was prevalent amongst them. Human 
sacrifices were common, literally veryfying 
the Scriptures where it says that " The dark 
places of the earth are full of the habitations 
of cruelty;" for the old historians tell us 
that one of their customs was to cause en- 
ormous wicker baskets to be made, and after 
filling them with human beings alive, set fire 
to the whole and bum them to death, as a 
propitiation to their gods. Their religious 
worship was conducted in the recesses of 
rocky glens, deep scars, and gloomy forests, 
and human victims were a frequent sacrifice, 
On the principle of life for life, if a man 
were in danger of death from disease or in 
battle, he would vow to the gods that, if res- 
cued, he would give them another in his 
stead. Should he survive, he employed the 
Druids to execute his vow; and if they could 
find a thief or an evil doer, they imme- 
diately immolated him on the altar. But if 
no criminal could be found, they did not 
scruple to take the life of the innocent. 
The wild fruit of the forest was their food, 
and their clothing was made from the skins 
of the wild beasts. Their shoes were like 
the brogues worn in Ireland, made of un tan- 
ned leather. Tall of stature, they had blue 
eyes, and red hair, and in everything were no 
further advanced in civilization than many 
tribes of the North American Indians at the 
present day. And this rude people, the 
Brigantes, have lived through their lives, 
have died, and been buried, on the same spot 
where we live now. 

Julius Csesar in his Commentaries, gives 
the following account of the Druids, and of 
their religion.' 

" It is especially the object of the Druids 
to inculcate this — that souls do not perish, 
but after death pass into other bodies ; and 
they consider that by this belief, more than 
anything else, men may be led to cast away 
the fear of death and to become courageous. 
They discuss, moreover, many points con- 
cerning the heavenly bodies and their mo- 
tion, the extent of the universe and the 



ing. The Bards were poets, the Druids 
priests and judges, the Ovates a mixed class, 
cultivators of science and art. There was 
an Arch-Druid, who wore a girdle round his 
waist, on which appeared the crystal of Aug- 
ury, encased in gold; round his neck was 
the breastplate of judgment, said to possess 
the salutary but uncomfortable property of 
garotting the wearer on the utterance of a 
corrupt judgment, and on each of two fingers 
of his right hand he wore a ring, one plain, 
the other the chain ring of divination. 

5 



THE BRIGANTES. 



world, the nature of things, the influence 
and ability of the immortal gods; and they 
instruct the youth in these things. 

11 The whole nation of the Gauls is much 
addicted to religious observances, and on 
that account, those who are attacked by any 
of the more serious disorders, and those who 
are involved in the dangers of warfare, either 
offer human sacrifices or vow that they will 
offer them, and they employ the Druids to 
officiate at these sacrifices ; for they consider 
that the favour of the immortal gods cannot 
be conciliated unless the life of one man be 
offered up for the life of another : they have 
also sacrifices of the same kind appointed on 
behalf of the state. Some have images of 
enormous size, the limbs of which they make 
of wicke^work, and fill with living men, and 
setting them on fire, the men are destroyed 
by the flames. They consider that the tor- 
ture of such as have been taken in the com- 
mission of theft and open robbery, or in any 
crime, is more agreeable to the immortal 
gods ; but when there is not a sufficient 
number of criminals, they scruple not to 
inflict this torture on the innocent. 

" The chief deity whom they worship is 
Mercury (1); of him they have many im- 
ages, and they consider him to be the in- 
ventor of all arts, their guide in all their 
journeys, and that he has the greatest influ- 
ence in the pursuit of wealth, and the affairs 
of commerce. Next to him they worship 
Apollo and Mars, and Jupiter and Minerva ; 
and nearly resemble other nations in their 
views respecting these, as that Apollo wards 
off' diseases, that Minerva communicates the 
rudiments of manufactures and arts, that 
Jupiter is the ruler of the celestials, that 
Mars is the God of war. To Mars, when 
they have determined to engage in a pitched 
battle, they commonly devote whatever spoil 
they may take in the war. After the con- 
test they slay all living creatures that are 
found among the spoil; the other things 
they gather into one spot. In many states 
heaps raised of these things in consecrated 
places may be seen: nor does it often hap- 
pen that any one is so unscrupulous as to 
conceal at home any part of the spoil, or to 
take it away when "deposited •, a very heavy 



punishment with torturo is denounced against 
that crime. 

" All the Gauls declare that they are 
descended from Father Dis (or Pluto), and 
this, they say, has been handed down by the 
Druids: for this reason, they distinguish all 
spaces of time not by the number of days, 
but of nights; they so regulate their birth- 
days, and the beginning of the months and 
years, that the days shall come after the 
night." (1) 

[N.B. — Nearly the whole of the notes 
appended to this, and the succeeding paper, 
are parts of a lecture on " British and Roman 
Yorkshire," delivered in the Mechanics' In- 
stitute, Bradford, on the 2nd of December, 
1862, by the late Rev. Joshua Fawcett, 
M.A. ; and were copied down at the time. 
They are, like everything emanating from 
that learned man, full of valuable antiqua- 
rian information ] 



YORKSHIRE UNDER THE 
ROMANS. 

The first invasion of the Brigantian territory 
by the Romans was about A.D., 50 ; for be 
it remembered that Caesar did not penetrate 
further than the southern coasts of Britain. 
The entry into these northern parts was left 
to one Ostorious Scapula, and he was so far 
successful in subjugating the inhabitants, 
that we are certain of this, that the Sixth 
Legion which came to Britain A.D. 117, was 
stationed at the city of Eburacum, or York ; 
and here a Roman army remained until the 
time of Constantine, when the whole island 
was evacuated, about A.D. 406. These three 
hundred years were years of war and glory, 
along the whole of the northern frontier. In 
the interior of the land it was a time of peace 
and plenty, and the whole of Yorkshire from 
its eastern boundary to the limestone forma- 
tions of Craven, was literally full of people, 
and the whole country was dotted with 
luxurious Roman villas (2). At York, or 



(1) It is a little curious that Caesar should 
give Greek and Roman names to the British 
deities, or gods ; as these could scarcely have 
been the names given to them by the Britons 
themselves. Perhaps Caesar finding the same 
attributes bestowed on British gods as on 
those of his own country, gave them in con. 
nee Roman names. 



(1) From the article Britannia, in the 
Penny Cyclopedia. 

(2) Wc have' several remains of Roman 
dwellings extant in different parts of Yo;k- 
shire, and especially in York and Isurium 
(Aldborough). In those of the better class, 
pavements were common. The one at Isu- 
rium is a beautiful instance of this. The 



YORKSHIRE UNDER THE ROMANS. 



Eburacum, many a great general and em- 
peror lived his brief splendid life, died, and 
was buried. 

From internal evidence we have reason to 
believe that the bulk of the people, were, 
under the Roman rule, thriving, industrious, 
contented and happy. The brave soldiers 
of the Roman Legions were employed in 
opening up the country by the construction 
of excellent roads, some of which remain 
unto the present day; and so durable are 
they, that nothing but the mattock and spade 
can destroy them, or root them up from the 
soil where they were made, and where the 
small stones of which they are formed were 
cemented together, sixteen, or seventeen 
hundred years ago (1). "A long and interesting 



bath seems to have been an inseparable ac- 
companiment to the better class of houses. 
Baths were of different kinds, — the Frigida- 
rium, or cold bath : the Tepidarium, or warm 
bath : the Sudarium, or vapour bath : the 
Balneum, or hot bath. Around these, were 
rooms for undressing, called Apodyteria; and 
others, Eleothesia, for anointing with oil. 
The centre part of the house was a large 
open court, or atrium, common to all visitors. 
Above this, the compluvium or opening 
above ; the basin of water, below, the im- 
pluvium. Near the outer door on the floor 
was the inscription — Cave Canem, or take care 
of the dog; and near the atrium, Salve, i.e., 
welcome, shewing their hospitality to all 
comers. The Cubicula, or sleeping-rooms, 
were around this court, as also the tablinium, 
or drawing-room, and triclinium, or winter 
dining-room. 

(1) It is deserving of notice that some of 
the roads which are commonly called Roman, 
are nothing more than adopted British roads ; 
and when they are so may be discovered by 
the roughness of the boulders of which they 
are formed. Taking York as a centre, Ave 
find the following roads : — proceeding north- 
wards, the first Roman station was Isuiium 
(Aldborough); then Cataractonium, or a 
place half a mile from it called Thornbrough; 
then Lavatroe, or Bowes. Proceeding south- 
ward, we come to Calcaria (Tadcaster), 
though some say Helensford, near Thorparch ; 
then Lagecio (Castleford) ; then Danum 
(Doncaster). Proceeding westward, we come 
to Addleium (or Addle) ; then to Olicana 
(Ilkley) ; then to Whalley and Ribchester. 
Proceeding north-east, we come to Old Mal- 
ton ; then we branch off to Whitby and 
Filey. Proceeding south-east, we come to 
Kexby Bridge, Market Weighton, and Pa- 
trington, or Brough. The roads were usually 



paper on the Roman roads of this part of 
Yorkshire, was read before the members of 
the British Archajlogical Association, at their 
meeting at Leeds, m 1863, and it was 
printed in the transactions of that learned 
body at the time. 

In the Geography of Claudius Ptolomy, 
who was born at Pelusium or Alexandria, 
about the year A.D. 70, there is mention 
made of the following Roman or Brigantian 
towns in the West Riding: Eburacum, Isu- 
rium, Catarractonium, and Olicana. Another 
town is also supposed to be in the West 
Riding, namely ,—Camounlodounon, or Cam- 
bodunum. Eboracum is York; Isurium 
Aldborough, or Borough Bridge; Catarrac- 
tonium, Catterick; Olicana, Ilkley ; and 
by many Combodunum is supposed to be 
Slack, near Halifax. All these with the 
exception of the last named are satisfactorily- 
determined, by camps, lines of road, and 
inscriptions which have been found. 

The conquering armies of the Romans 
easily accomodated themselves to their new 
colony, and no doubt they generally adopted 
the sites of former British towns, and intro- 
duced into them all the arts, inventions, and 
improvements of which the great Roman 
nation was then the depository. The 



straight, and it is remarkable that the lines- 
of the Roman roads were nearly identical 
with those of our present trunk railroads. 
They were paved with regular blocks of 
stones, or flints, or cobbles: in some instances, 
thick layers of gravel, the substratum being 
carefully constructed, and in a substantial 
manner. They were called streets. Hence, 
Streethouses, York; Barton-le-Street ; Mal- 
ton; Chester- le-Street, Durham. These 
roads were made for the purpose of quick 
transit of persons, goods, and letters. There 
were posts at regular distances. Houses wei e 
erected at every six Roman miles, and every 
house w r as provided with forty horses. There 
were also inns, or lodging-houses, where 
travellers might obtain accommodation for 
the night. These roads were paid for out of th e 
the public purse. The main roads were super- 
intended in the making, and kept in repair 
by some person high in authority. The cross 
iters were the same, but paid for by a rate 
upon the owners of the properties through 
which they passed, by an order of magistrates. 
The roads had milestones, and were measured 
from a gilded column, erected by Augustus, 
in the Forum. There were roadbooks, called 
"itineraries," or ancient Bradshaws. Ac- 
cording to the itinerary of Antoninus, the 
journey from London to York was 227 miles. 



YORKSHIRE UNDER THE ROMANS. 



camps for their protection were generally of 
a rectangular form, but Vegetius who wrote 
in the days of Valentinian (A.D. 385) says, 
that Roman camps were made square, round, 
or triangular, to suit the nature of the 
ground, the most approved form being the 
oblong, with the length one-third greater 
than the breadth (1). A good specimen of a 
Roman camp may be seen at Ilkley, and 
another near Lofthouse. But Roman camps 
and stations are numerous in Yorkshire. 
Once enclosed within camps or stations, the 
Romans were not idle, for they employed 
themselves in casting money, (2) in iron- 
work, (3) brick making and pottery (4). They 



(1) These must not be confounded with 
the British camps Wherever the Romans 
halted, even for a night, they threw up a 
kind of earthwork, and they called it castra; 
if for a longer time, castra slatim ; if a winter 
camp, castra hiberna ; if a summer camp, 
castra cestiva. There are many remains of 
Roman camps in Yorkshire. A very beauti- 
ful one is to be found at Cawthorne, near 
Pickering. In short, they are of such fre- 
quent occurrence, as to be met with in most 
parts of the country. 

(2) In the earliest times money was no- 
thing more than a certain weight of metala 
used in exchange lor any articles. The first 
Roman coins were casU not stmcJe. Pliny 
says that the coinage of silver was not intro- 
duced till two centuries after the coinage of 
brass, in the year 268 B.C. And the gold 
coinage was 62 years later than that of silver. 
Roman coins were struck in London, and 
hence that exergue M.L., meaning "Moneta 
Londinensis. " Several of Constantine's coins 
bear these exergual letters, P L. O N., 
meaning probably Pecunia Londinensis, or 
Percussa Londinensi. It is not certain that 
there was a mint in York. Constantine's 
coins might be struck in London. There 
were heavy fines for forgery. Moulds used 
by forgers have been found near Wakefield. 
The crime of forgery reached its height in 
the reign of Claudius when four out of every 
five of the denarrii of that emperor were 
plated. 

(3) Iron was worked by the Romans to a 
very considerable extent in Yorkshire, of 
which we have had abundant proofs in 
many parts. In instance that it was worked 
to a considerable extent in the neighbour- 
hood of Dan by, in the Cleveland district, 
the Writer had evident proof during a visit 
to tbjit neighbourhood in the summer of last 
year. The roads in that vicinity are made 
of slag, or scoria, produced by the smelting 



also established posts for the conveyance of 
letters to and fro, and thus were the first to 
introduce the convenience of the modern 
post-office (1). Temples (2) and altars erected 

of iron ore. The same may be said of the 
neighbourhood of Low Moor, near Bradford. 
A short time ago the writer discovered, at 
a distance of two or three fields from Bierley 
Hall, a large mound of the refuse of iron 
smelting, thrown up, composed of slag, char- 
red wood, and broken earthen crucibles, 
proving that the mode of smelting in those 
early times was with wood instead of coal, 
and in crucibles instead of open fires. 

(4) The potter's artfs very ancient. It is 
uncertain whether the art of the potter or 
the brickmaker is the more ancient. There 
were many Roman potteries in this country. 
For instance, one at Woodhouse, near Leeds ; 
also Scruton, near Brigg; and in Stafford- 
shire. At Scruton was found earthenware 
which seemed to contain fragments of cal- 
careous spar. Pottery was either black, or 
blue, or bluish gray, or red. It is thought 
that the red clay used at Woodhouse was 
brought from Cleveland. Roman bricks were 
either sun burnt, or kiln burnt. The former 
were made in autumn, and continued drying 
at least two years. The bricks were often 
mixed with straw. Bricks are often met with 
in York. Each brickmaker had his own 
mark, such as the figure of a god, or plant, 
or animal, enriched with his own name. 
Upon some of the plain bricks are marks of 
a dog's foot having passed over them in a 
soft state. 

(1) Posts for letters were probably first 
established by Augustus. At first the cour- 
iers ran on foot : then, for greater speed, horses 
or mules were used. Houses were erected 
every six miles, and each house was provided 
with forty horses; they were first used for the 
public service, but afterwards used by private 
individuals. 

(2) There was a temple in York, near St. 
Mary's Abbey, and it is probable the Minster 
at York was built on the site of one. It is 
said the Parish Church, Leeds, stands on the 
foundation of a Roman sanctuary. Every 
Roman emperor was styled, " Pontifex Maxi- 
mus,''' High Priest, and the most honourable 
men in the state were ministers of religion. 
It has been proved that there was a temple 
to Bellona at York, as also one to Serapis; 
an inscription on a coarse grit stone now in 
the York Museum proves this. It was usual 
to place temples to Diana at the corner of 
three roads. Diana was hence called also 
Trivia, because her statues were placed 
where three roads met. 



YORKSHIRE UNDER THE ROMANS. 



to their tutular defties were erected in various 
parts of Yorkshire. A Roman votive altar, 
dedicated to the nymph or goddess of the 
Wharfe, under the name of Verbeia, has 
been dug up at Ilkley, and is preserved at 
Middleton Lodge. The inscription may be 
found in the pages of Camden. At Slack, 
near Stainland, on the site of a Roman tem- 
ple, a votive altar has been found bearing 
the following : — " Fortunae Sacrum, Caius 
Antonius Modestus Centurio, Legionis Sex- 
tae Victricis, piae, fidelis, votum salvit lubens 
merito. " Sometimes altars were raised and 
dedicated to the deities of the Brigantes, as 
would seem by one found at Gretland, 
(A.D. 209)—" DVI Civitatis Brigantum et 
numinibus Augustorum Titus Aurelianus 
decicavit pro se et suis (S. M. A. G. S.) ; " 
on the other side, "Antonino tertium et 
Geta Consulibus. " 

After death, " the Romans buried the body, 
or burned it and deposited the ashes. In 
neither case was it customary to raise a tu- 
mulus over the dead (1). In many instances 



(1) In the disposal of the dead, two me- 
thods prevailed, 1st, the burial of the entire 
body ; 2nd, the burial of the ashes after the 
body had been burned. The modes of burial 
have been various, either 1st, covered all over 
with earth below ground, or 2nd, placed in a 
cavern or cell, or 3rd, placed in a coffin or 
sarcophagus, or 4th, embalmed and placed 
in a chest. The bnrning of the dead was 
obnoxious to the Hebrews, but it was adopted 
by the Greeks and Romans. As soon as 
death took place the following steps were 
taken towards the interment. The deceased 
was washed with hot water and fragrant oils. 
This was done every day, for seven days to- 
gether. When all hope was nearly at an end, 
there was a " conclamatio, " similar to the 
Irish keening. The deceased person was 
then embalmed, richly clothed, placed on a 
couch, and his feet laid towards the door, to 
signify that he was on the road to life. On 
the seventh day a crier called the people to- 
gether to the interment. At the funeral, the 
proeficee, or old women, sang the praises of 
the deceased. The body was taken to the 
Forum, where an oration was delivered by 
the next of kin. This ended, the corpse was 
carried to the funeral pyre, to be burned. 
Before this was done, the friends of the de- 
ceased cut off one of his ringers to be interred 
with a separate ceremony. When all was 
burned, the prceficse said "Ilicet," i.e. De- 
part. The remains were buried in an urn. 
These urns were of different materials, cop- 
per, silver, gold, and porphyry. Roman urns 



the body was enclosed in cloth and placed 
in a squared stone coffiu, made of the grit- 
stone of Brimham, probably brought to 
Eburacum by way of Isurium, or of the 
magnesian limestone brought from Calcaria 
(Tadcaster). It was covered by a flat or 
somewhat coped stone. On one side of the 
coffin was the inscription recording the name 
and age and other particulars relating to the 
deceased, and the name of his relation or 
friend who dedicated the memorial. In other 
cases a sheet of lead was cut and folded, or 
folded without cutting, to form a rectangular 
chest, over which was placed a leaden cover. 
There is a rare example in the Yorkshire 
Museum of burial in a wooden coffin, which 
was enclosed in a tomb built of huge blocks 
of gritstone. 

The body thus placed was covered by a 
grouting of lime, on which may be seen the 
impressions of the cloth, and within which 
many ornaments and other articles are 
found, as beads of glass and red coral, 
bracelets of bronze, rings of gold, silver, 
bronze and jet, and sandal nails of iron. 

The ashes of bodies which had been sub- 
ject to cremation were sometimes placed in 
the earth with no urn or coffin, and covered 
with tiles marked by the name of the legion— 
a soldier's grave. In other and more numer- 
ous cases, urns containing fragments of bone 
are found with elegant glass phials,but neither 
till, stone, or tumulus. In similar urns many 
bronze tools, as celts, chisels, and gouges, 
have been found. These circumstances are 
mentioned only by way of contrast to the 
mound burials of the Britons and Anglians, 
from the latter of which they seem to differ 
the least. Roman burials have been recog- 
nized by the sides of the road leading out of 
York, even to the distance of a mile ; and 



have been frequently found, containing coins, 
incense pots, ustrinal vessels, lamps, lachry- 
matories, bottles containing oils, wines, &c. 
It was contrary to the Roman law to bury 
gold with the dead, but there was this singular 
exception, viz , a clause which permitted the 
burial of such gold as fastened false teeth in 
the mouth of the deceased. The places of 
burial among the Romans were usually out- 
side their cities, and near the roadside. 
Hence the road through Micklegate Bar to- 
wards Dringhouses was called "the street of 
tombs." This explains the following in- 
scription found on tombs near the roadside. 
" Siste viator; Tu qui via flaminia transis 
resta ac relege •, viatores salvete et valete." 
Also " Vixi ut vivisj morieris ut sum mor- 
tuus, " 

9 



THE LITTLE BRITISH KINGDOM OF ELMET. 



of stone coffins the number found has been 
Considerable (1). " 



ON THE LITTLE 
BRITISH KINGDOM OF ELMET. 

[The Rev. Thomas Dunham Whitaker, 
the learned Vicar of "Whalley, published in 
the early part of this century, a work 
which he named u Loidis and Elmete." In 
this he gives a short historical sketch of all 
the towns and villages, which he believed to 
be within the district of the ancient kingdom 
of Elmete. This kingdom has been men- 
tioned by many of the historians of our own 
and former ages, and is believed to have in- 
cluded all the country bounded on the west by 
Bingley, and on the south-west by Halifax. 
It also held within its limits the lands on the 
lower parts of the Wharfe, Aire, and Calder. 
This little British kingdom of which Brad- 
ford would necessarily form a part, held its 
own as a separate power under British kings, 
from about the year A.D. 400, till 616 ; but 
during the reign of Cereticus it was conquered 
by Edwin, king of Northumbria, and after- 
wardsbecame incorporated with that kingdom, 
which also included the province of Deira. 
Leeds, now the capital of the West Riding, 
was also the capital of the kingdom of 
Elmete. 

On the 18th of October, 1863, a very in- 
teresting paper written by Mr. John James, 
F.S.A., on this little British kingdom, was 
read before the members of the British 
Archaelogical Association at Leeds, by Thos. 
Wright, Esq., M.A., F.S.A. The whole of 
this valuable essay is subjoined in the belief 
that it will be prized by the readers of these 
Collectanea.] 

When the Roman legions had been with- 
drawn from our shores, and nearly the whole 
country lay at the mercy of the Anglo-Sax- 
ons, there existed in the heart of the West 
Riding of Yorkshire a little state called 
Elmet, which maintained for nearly two 
hundred years its independence. It was 
probably enclosed on all sides by the kingdom 
of Deira, which included the whole of the 
other parts of Yorkshire. This Regiuncula 
of Elmet, as it has been called, possesses for 
many reasons great interest both to the anti- 



1) Phillips. 
10 



quary and general inquirer. 1st. Because 
it probably remained in regard to inhabitants, 
religion, and manners, much the same from 
the time when the Romans quitted this 
country until the year 6 1 6 ; 2ndly. Because 
in this interval it stood like an oasis hemmed 
in by the desert of Saxon paganism. From 
the time that Christianity was introduced 
into Yorkshire, probably in the latter part 
of the second century, its pure light, it may 
be believed, never afterwards became ex- 
tinguished, (1) nor the literature, arts, and 
civilisation of Rome quite lost in this terri- 
tory of Elmet, though the gross darkness of 
heathenism pervaded for a long period the 
Saxon rule in England ; and 3rdly, because 
Leeds, now the capital of the West Riding, 
was most likely also the capital of the king- 
dom of Elmet. The history of this inter- 
esting little state is involved in deep obscu- 
rity, for very few ancient notices have des- 
cended to us respecting it. Lappenberg, in 
his '' History of England under the Saxon 
kings " (translated by Mr. Thorpe) states 
that Henric, grandson of ^Ella, King of 
Northumbria, was poisoned in Elmet some 
time before the year 616, and that about the 
same year his uncle Edwin, also King of 
Northumbria (which included the province 
of Deira), as one of his earliest deeds on 
ascending the throne, " conquered about the 
year 616 the little British territory of Elmet, 
which had existed as an independent state." 
We are also informed that at this time Ce- 
reticus held the sovereignty of Elmet. 
Within a few years after this conquest Ed- 
win was converted to the Christian faith by 
Paulinus, who afterwards preached at Dews- 
bury, and throughout these parts. The 
country of Loidis, which by Thoresby was 
assumed to be the same as the district of 
Elmet, is mentioned by the venerable Bede, 
and also the " Wood of Elmet, " as here- 
after more fully stated. But the most curious 
notice of Elmet is contained in the fragment 
of an ancient MS. inserted in "Camden's 
Britannia,'' and containing a list of the Saxon 
divisions of England during the time of the 
Heptarchy, when England was not divided 
into counties, but only into several small 
partitions with their number of hides. In 



(1) It would appear from this essay by 
Mr. James, that the Britons in this district 
held out the longest against the usurpation 
of the pagan Saxons who came over into 
England. It is more than probable also, 
that the natives of the country hereabouts, 
were, early in the Christian era, made ac- 
quainted with the tenets of Christianity. 



THE LITTLE BRITISH KINGDOM OF ELMET. 



this list the number of hides possessed in 
Elmet is set down, but it is far from certain 
whether these were all that were included in 
the former district of Elmet, or merely re- 
presented a later " partition " carved out of 
it. At this point the inquiry naturally arises, 
— "What then were the extent and bounds of 
the ancient kingdom of Elmet P The sub- 
joined remarks are offered as aids in answer- 
ing this inquiry : — As to its extent, — From 
the ancient MS. inserted in " Camden's Brit- 
annia " we find that Elmed-Setna (that is, 
the inhabitants of Elmet) possessed or occu- 



Mr. Miall, in his "Yorkshire Illustrations 
of English History," thus sums up the 
evidences of the early introduction of 
Christianity. M In the year 359, three Brit- 
ish bishops were present at the Council of 
Ariminuny, who received state support from 
the Emperor Constantius. British versions 
of parts of the bible were then in existence, 
and the pastors of that country stoutly op- 
posed the Arian heresy. Tertullian bears 
witness to the early spread of Christianity in 
Britain, and adds that it had even reached 
those parts not yet subject to the Roman 
sway. It is important that this testimony be 
borne in mind, and that it be coupled with 
the fact, that the new religion did not, before 
the time of Austin, spread from the south 
towards the north, as we might expect, if it 
had been immediately derived rrom Rome, 
but from Scotland towards the south, and 
that the usages of the earlier British churches 
were diverse from those brought by Austin 
direct from the Imperial City. Certain it 
is that, at the time of the Ditftfletion perse- 
cution, at the beginning of the 4th century, 
Alban and his companions were put to death 
for their Christianity at Verulamium (St. 
Albans), as well as Aaron and Jumus at 
Deva (Chester), and others elsewhere. Pe- 
lagius moreover (A.D. 420), was a native of 
Wales, and his doctrine greatly agitated the 
first churches of Britain. In opposition, 
Germanus, bishop of Auxerre (and this is 
also important) was very conspicuous, and 
visited this country for the purpose of refut- 
ing him. Also, about the year 433, as we 
are informed by Beda, Palladius, a deacon 
of the church of Rome, was sent by Cseles- 
tinus, then bishop of Rome, to superintend 
the body of Scots who, at that time were 
believers in Christ, but were disturbed by the 
heresies of Cselestinus. All these facts point 
to the conclusion that Christianity had ob- 
tained many conquests in Britain before the 
sixth century, and that though Rome had 
recognized its existence, it had not directly 
planted it.'' 



pied 600 hides of land. Wight-Gira (which 
it is presumed stands for the Isle of Wight) 
is also set down in the same MS. as consist- 
ing of the like number of hides ; so that, 
taking the hides to contain the same measure 
of land in both places, we obtain from the 
known area of the Isle of Wight, 86,800 
acres, or about 136 square miles. But it is 
very probable that the district of Elmet con- 
tained much more. Bishop Kennet, in his 
" Parochial Antiquities, " observes that the 
word "hide," was originally taken for a 
house, and what Bede calls familias, that is, 
as much land as Would maintain a family, 
for his Saxon interpreter, King Alfred, calls 
it Hydelander. The quantity of a hide was 
never expressly determined —sometimes it 
contained 100 acres, sometimes eight virgates 
(192 acres). The truth seems to be, hide, 
knights' fee, and yardland differed in differ- 
ent places. " Now it is quite certain that in 
the Saxon times the hide contained more 
land in the sterile or uncultivated lands of 
the north of England than in the more fruit- 
ful districts of the south. For instance, it 
appears from Domesday survey for some 
parts of Lancashire, six carucates or 600 
acres made a hide of land, but in other 
counties the hide and carucate were mostly 
the same. The district of Elmet, it is sup- 
posed, took its name from abounding in elm 
trees. As will hereafter appear, it is con- 
jectured that it included within its bounds at 
least the valleys of the Wharfe and Aire, 
and probably also that of the Calder. Every 
one traversing these valleys cannot but be 
struck with the large remnants of the forests 
which completely covered their slopes in the 
days of our Saxon forefathers. In Otley 
manor there were, at the time of the Domes- 
day survey, — Coppice Wood, nine miles in 
length and nine in breadth ; the Great Wood 
of Farnley, near Leeds ; and Bishop's Wood, 
near Sherburn, and numerous others, are 
vestiges of the immense forests which spread 
over the face of Elmet and gave security and 
independence to its inhabitants. It is evi- 
dent, therefore, from the existence of these 
immense forests and the vast tracts of moor- 
land between the valleys that a very exten- 
sive tract of country would be required to 
support 600 families supposed to constitute 
the population of Elmet, for a family in 
Saxon times had often a large number of de- 
pendents. From all these considerations it 
will perhaps be a moderate estimate to allot 
to the kingdom of Elmet about 400 square 
miles, or say 25 miles long and 18 miles 
broad. In corroboration of this surmise 
Bede states that the Island of Ely (which is 
24 miles in length and 14 miles in breadth) 
contained in his time 600 families, hides o r 

11 



THE LITTLE BRITISH KINGDOM OF ELMET. 



households, and it was unquestionably then 
a more fertile spot than the country around 
Leeds. As to its bounds, Thoresby in his 
Ducatus, observes: — "The territory about 
Leeds called Elmet, or the Regio Loidis, 
which seems in those ages [Saxon] to have 
been of equal extent. " Undoubtedly, the 
Sylva Elmetice of Bede, and adds that he 
durst not venture upon defining the bounda- 
ries of the Regiuncula of Elmet. What 
Thoresby durst not venture upon it may ap- 
pear rash to attempt. The following hints 
are, however, with all diffidence, offered to- 
wards solving this difficulty. Thoresby him- 
self, in the Ducatus (page 245, second edition) 
remarks : — '* I take Shireburn to be the ut- 
most limits, at least in this topography, of 
the ancient Elmed Setna, or the inhabitants 
of Elmet as I take the word to signify." 
Here, then, we have the authority of Thoresby 
for assuming Sherburn to be on the eastern 
boundary of Elmet; but there are also other 
reasons for this opinion. In many ancient 
writings Sherburn is described as " Sherburn 
in Elmet; "and Old Lombard in his Dic- 
tionary, published in 1577, says the " Terri- 
tory or Hundredth about Shyrburne, in York 
is called Elmete. " Again the very title — 
" Shireburn " — denotes the boundary of a 
shire or district. Towards the north it is not 
unlikely that the river Wharfe formed the 
boundary. Nowhere can the monastery of 
the most Reverend Abbot and Priest Theid- 
wulf, mentioned by Bede to stand in the 
" Wood of Elmet, " be placed more appro- 
priately than at Tadcaster, for there or there- 
abouts a monastery existed in the Saxon 
times, the only one in that part of the 
country which can be considered as included 
in the territory of* Elmet. That this terri- 
tory could not extend to the north further at 
the most than Tadcaster may be concluded 
from the circumstance of York being the 
capital of Deira from the time of its subju- 
gation by the Saxons, and that the district be- 
tween the Wharfe and the city incontestably 
belonged to it. It is clear that the country 
contiguous to Tadcaster on the south be- 
longed to Elmet, because Berwick-in-Elmet 
lies in that quarter. And here, most likely, 
from the remains still seen, stood the royal 
villa or residence of the later Kings of Nor- 
thumbria mentioned by Bede as lying in "the 
country called Loidis." As to the bound- 
aries of Elmet on the west, there seems but 
little material to form even a probable opin- 
ion. Lappenberg thinks that the district 
called Cumbria extended into the later K ing- 
dom of Northumbria, and that "the little 
state of Elmet " belonged to it. This con- 
jecture, for it is only one, does not seem very 
plausible, for the voice of history is plain 
12 



that Elmet was an independent state under 
its own King. Besides, Lappenberg's theory 
would require Craven to have been included 
in Cumbria, and the evidence is strong that 
it belonged to Deira. It is, however, not 
improbable that the state of Elmet extended 
on the west of the confines of the Deanery 
of Craven (about 25 miles from Sherburn) 
where there seems to have existed from a re- 
mote period a strong line of demarkation. 
On the South there are no means of forming 
a judgment as to the situation of the bound- 
ary line. Dr. Whitaker, by including the 
parish of Halifax under the title of his 
Great Work, apparently thought that it 
formed part of the Southern boundary of the 
district, to which he gave the name of Loidis 
and Elmete. Indeed his work includes very 
much the same country as that ascribed in 
this paper to Elmet. Taking Sherburn as 
the east point, Bingley as the west, the 
breadth required (28 miles) would include 
the lower portions of the valleys of the 
Wharfe, Aire, and Calder. The town of 
Leeds either gave the name to the country 
of Loidis, mentioned by Bede, or took its 
name from it as its capital. Let us now con- 
sider for a few moments the question of the 
state of Leeds prior to the Conquest. 
Thoresby believes that Caer Loid Cort, one 
of the twenty-eight British cities enumerated 
by Nemus, was Leeds, not Lincoln, as many 
have supposed and adduced, among other 
good reasons the great authority of Dean 
Gale, for this opinion. Dr. Whitaker, that 
prince of topographers, in a note to the pas- 
sage in Thoresby, says, " On a cooler con- 
sideration than our author's partiality to the 
subject would allow him to bestow on it, I 
cannot but think that Leeds has a fairer 
claim to be the Caer Loid Cort of Nennius 
than any other place. " That Leeds was a 
very important place in the Saxon times is 
satisfactorily proved by Domesday Survey, 
for seven Thanes held it of King Edward 
the Confessor for seven Manors, valued at 
the large sum of £6. Besides there were 
there a church, a priest, and a mill, several 
classes ef occupiers representing a consider- 
able population for the age, and many other 
indications of a place of importance ; in fact 
the chief town of the district. Singularly 
enough the Conqueror, though he devastated 
the neighbourhood, spared Leeds, and hence 
its rapid growth soon after, whereby it even- 
tually obtained a great charter from the 
Pagancls, its lords, and became large and 
prosperous. 



THE ANGLO-SAXONS AND DANES. 



THE 



ANGLO-SAXONS 
DANES. 



AND 



The. withdrawal of the Roman Legions from 
Britain left all these northern parts at the 
mercy of the Picts and Scots, for the natives 
of the land having been so long under the 
protection of their conquerors, seem to have 
lost their prowess, and forgotten the art of 
war; yet to the credit of the Romans be it 
said, they twice returned at the invitation of 
the Britons and drove their enemies beyond 
the wall of Hadrian. In the reign of the 
emperor Valentin'ian, under Honorius, they 
were at last however abandoned, about the 
year A.D., 409. The Roman civilians who 
remained in Britain, were, after the final 
departure of the Legions, continually en- 
gaged in dissensions with the natives of the 
country, until at length as we are told by an 
old historian, they buried a great part ^ of 
their treasures of gold and silver, and taking 
ship, they departed as exiles into the land of 
Gaul. ( 1 ) The Saxons were then a powerful 
people, had been long engaged in war, and 
having formed a confederacy north of the 
Elbe, of the German tribes, they were ready 
for any encounter. The Britons asked them 
over to assist them against the Picts. The 
Saxons had visited Britain before this time, 
but now when the Romans were entirely 
withdrawn they accepted the invitation, drove 
out the Picts, and in their turn became the 
masters of the people and despoilers and 
possessors of the land which had beforetime 
supported the Roman conquerors. From 
this time the whole became a disunited 
people, severe battles were fought, and 
slaughter and rapine swept over the land. 
This lasted for more than two hundred years, 
until the Christianity which had been preach- 
ed by the Roman missionaries had become 
neglected and almost forgotten. (2) 

After the Saxons came the piratical Danes 
to complete the misery of the people, and 



(1) A.D. 418. "In the ninth year after 
the Sacking of Rome by the Goths, those of 
Roman race who were left in Britain, not 
bearing the manifold insults of the people, 
bury their treasures in pits, thinking that 
hereafter they might have better fortune, 
which never was the case; and taking a por- 
tion assemble on the coast, spread their can- 
vass to the winds, and seek an exile on the 
shores of Gaul." — EthelweraVs Chronicle. 

(2) Arthur, a British prince, established 
Christianity at York, in the room of Pagan- 
ism, or worshipping of idols. 



the scenes of rapine and slaughter were re- 
enacted once more. At length about A.D. 
876, as we learn from the Anglo Saxon 
Chronicle, the wisdom of the great and 
good king Alfred, was rewarded by the 
return of peace, and the inhabitants thence- 
forth throughout all Northumbria (1) con- 
tinued ploughing and tilling the land. 

" The influence of the Saxon invasion ap- 
pears in indelible marks upon British history. 
Nor was the result a mere admixture, as in 
the case of the Roman invasion. It was an 
amalgam, by which the natures of both sub- 
stances, brought into combination, were 
changed into a third and new metal, incom- 
parably superior to those which had existed 
before. A new people arose; a people of 
quick perceptions, firm will, and dauntless 
energy ; a people not remarkable, indeed, for 
vivacity, but steady in purpose and daring in 
aim. It was the happiness of Britain that, 
whilst as yet the elements of her national 
character were imperfect — whilst it was being 
formed into a comprehensive whole, — Chris- 
tianity stood by to direct the process; and 
though that Christianity was somewhat cor- 
rupted, it still spoke of the largeness of Di- 
vine mercy — still of the elevation of human 
character — still of the immortality of a life 
to come; and whereas the characters of other 
peoples, formed already, were modified by 
truths like these, the English character was 
absolutely made by them." (2) 

Like the Britons and the Romans before 
their conversion to Christianity, the Anglo- 
Saxons were idolaters and worshippers of 
gods made by their own hands. And it is 
somewhat curious to know that the names of 
the principal deities of the latter, furnish to 
this day the names of our days of the week ; 
whilst the Romans gave the names to our 
months, and which rAmes are still retained 
intact. 

Although properly belonging to general 
history, it may not be uninteresting to the 
reader if a brief sketch of the Saxon gods 
which give the names to the days of the 
week, is given here. 

The idol of the Sun is described like the 
bust of a man, set upon a pillar; holding, 
with outstretched arms, a burning wheel be- 
fore his breast. The first day of the week 



(1) In ancient times the term Northumber- 
land meant all the land north of the river 
Humber, and contained six counties in Eng- 
land, and as far as the Frith of Edinburgh in 
Scotland. 

(2) Yorkshire Illustrations of English 
Histmy. 

13 



THE ANGLO-SAXONS AND DANES. 



was especially dedicated to its adoration, 
which they termed the Sun's daeg; hence 
we have the word Sunday. The idol of the 
Moon, they worshipped on the second day of 
the week, and was called by them Moon's 
daeg; and since by us Monday. The form 
of this idol is intended to represent a woman, 
habited in a short coat, and a hood, with two 
long ears. The moon which she holds in her 
hand designates the quality. The idol of 
Tuisco, was at first deified as the father and 
ruler of the Teuitonic race, but in course of 
time he was worshipped as the son of the 
earth. From him came the Saxon words 
Tuisco daeg, which we call Tuesday. He is 
represented standing on a pedestal, as an old 
venerable sage, clothed with the skin of an 
animal, and holding a sceptre in the right 
hand. Woden, or Odin, was the supreme 
deity of the northern nations. This hero is 
supposed to have emigrated from the east, 
but from what country or at what time is not 
known. His exploits form the greatest part 
of the mythological creed of the northern 
nations, and his achievements are magnified 
beyond all credibility. The name of the 
fourth day of the week, called by the Saxon's 
Woden's daeg, and by us Wednesday, is 
derived from this personage. Woden is 
represented in a bold and martial attitude, 
clad in armour, with a broad sword, uplifted, 
in his right hand. The idol Thor, the oldest 
and bravest of the sons of Woden and Friga, 
was, after his parents considered as the 
greatest god among the Saxons and the 
Danes. To him the fifth day of the week, 
called by them Thor's daeg, and by us 
Thursday, was consecrated. Tlior is repre- 
sented as sitting on a throne, with a crown of 
gold on his head, adorned with a circle in 
front, wherein were set twelve bright bur- 
nished gold stars, and ^ tn a regal sceptre in 
his right hand. The idol Friga, or Frea, 
was the wife of Woden, or Odin, and, next 
to him, the most revered divinity among the 
heathen Saxons, Danes, and other northern 
nations. In the most ancient times, Friga, 
or Frea, was the same with the goddess Iler- 
tha, or earth. To her the sixth day of the 
week was consecrated, which by the Saxons 
was written Friga's daeg, corresponding with 
our Friday. Friga is represented with a 
drawn sword in her right hand, and a bow in 
her left. The idol Seator is represented on 
a pedestal, whereon is placed a perch, on the 
sharp prickled back of which he stood. His 
head was uncovered, and his visage lean. In 
his left hand he held up a wheel, and in his 
right was a pail of water, wherein were 
flowers and fruits; and his dress consisted of 
a long coat, girded with linen, J he appella- 
tion given to the clay of his celebration is 
H 



still retained. The Saxons named it Seator's 
daeg, which we call Saturday. 

Although the names given by the Saxons 
to the months were singularly expressive and 
poetically beautiful, they have fallen into 
disuse, and Roman names have been adopted. 
With the Saxons, December was called Mid- 
winter Monath; January, Aefter Yule (or 
after Christmas); February, Sol Monath 
(from the returning sun) ; March, Rethe 
Monath (rugged month) ; April, Easter 
Monath (from a Saxon goddess whose name 
we still preserve) ; May, was called Trimil- 
chi (from cows being milked thrice a day) ; 
June, Sere Monath (dry month); July, 
Maed Monath (the meads being then in 
bloom); August, Weod Monath (from the 
luxuriance of weeds); September, Haefast 
Monath (harvest month); October, Winter 
Fyllish (from winter approaching with the 
full moon of that month); November, Blot 
Monath (from the blood of cattle slain in that 
month, for winter provision). 

The conquest of the West Riding of York- 
shire by the Anglo-Saxons must have been 
very complete, for we find many proofs of 
this in the names of places, (l;as well as in 
the phisiognomy of the people who still in- 
habit our hills and dales. The indomitable 
energy, and the manners and customs of our 
yeomen, and ancient settled farmers, strongly 
remind us of the ever- enduring Saxon of 
former days. In the rural districts we are 
substantially the same to-day. But the 
greatest proofs perhaps of our descent from 
these races are the names of places around 
us, having Saxon or Danish terminations. 
The termination " ion, " town or village, is 
very common ; as in Allerton, Clayton, 
Thornton, Horton, Heaton, Bolton, Drigling- 
ton, and Skipton. These are all Teutonic. 
Ing and ham is also found in Manningham. 
ing sometimes means a meadow, and also a 
family. Ham, home or hamlet, from heim is 
found in Germany, and um in Friesland. It 
is found in Masham, Miilham, Middleham, 
and Rotherham. Field, which means a 
cleared space in a woody country ; is found 
in Huddersfield, Sheffield, and Wakefield. 
The very complete occupation of the neigh- 



(\ ) From the Anglo-Saxons we derive the 
names of the most ancient officers among us, 
of the greater part of the divisions of the 
kingdom, and of almost all our towns and 
villages. From them, also, we derive our 
language, of which the structure, and a ma« 
jority of the words — much greater than those 
who have not thought on the subject would 
at first easily believe— are Saxon. Sir James 
Mackintosh, in his History of England. 



RACES OF MEN IN YORKSHIRE. 



bourhood of Bradford by the Anglo-Saxons 
will be best shown by selecting the termina- 
tion ley, which is clearly a sign of Anglo- 
Saxon settlement. It is found in Otley, 
Burley, and Ilkley (the Roman Olicana) in 
Wharfedale. In Airedale we have Cononley, 
Keighley, Bingley, Cottingley, Shipley, Ap- 
perley, Guiseley, Calverley, Farsley, Head- 
ingley, Stanningley, and Armley. We have 
also Rodley, Wortley, Bagley, Farnley, 
Bramley, Batley and Bierley to the south. 
Many other places will occur to the memory 
of the reader who is familiar with the neigh- 
bourhood. The termination by, "which is in- 
dicative of Danish occupation, does not occur 
to our recollection nearer than Sowerby. 
Perhaps some Danish straggler wandered 
thither and gave it the name. The Danes 
were a seafaring people, and seldom in their 
incursions penetrated further than the coast, 
or up some of the creeks or rivers. Evidence 
of this is found at Kirkby,Selby, Whitby, 
and Wetherby; about seventeen places 
with this termination occur in Yorkshire 
only. All the higher mountains in the north- 
west are called '* Fells *, " the valleys " Dales ;" 
the streams "Becks ;" the waterfalls "Forces;" 
and the churches "Kirks." This would 
seem to imply in the opinion of some, — Mr. 
Phillips among the number, — that the north- 
west of Yorkshire was settled by Norwegians 
rather than by Danes. 

A few more instances of the names of 
towns derived from Saxon or Scandinavian 
sources may be of interest. Bank for hill, 
as Wibsey bank, and Hor ton bank top. Beck 
a stream, is applied to all the smaller rivulets, 
as Holbeck (shallow or low stream). Den, 
Dene, or Don, means down or downs, but 
sometimes it means/or* or hill. As Wilsden, 
H Mows-hill. Chellow-dene, in Manningham. 
Baildon, Baal's-hill, or Bel-hill. Cot or Cote 
means cottages or sheds as in Cottingley. 
Ford or Forth, a forduble stream as in Brad- 
ford (brad broad) Bradforth, as invariably 
pronounced in the country villages around ; 
also in Horsforth. Heaton from heed, heath; 
as in Cleckheaton (Clag or Clay). Haugh, 
or how, a hill, as in Haworth. Syke, a bog, 
as Reva-syke at Clayton. Stock, a dwelling, 
as Goit-Stock near Wilsden, from goit a 
brook, Wick a village, (from the Latin vicus) 
a bend in the river. Both are Saxons uses. 
Wyke between Huddersfleld and Bradford. 
Worth means farm, as Hawksworth, and in 
Haworth, the farm on the hill. On this 
subject much information may be gathered 
from Halliwell's Dictionary of Archaisms; 
The Dialect of Leeds and the Neighbour- 
hood; and Yorkshire Illustrations of English 
History, by J. G. Miull, of Bradford. 

Those who wish to study this subject fur- 



ther may do so with advantage by consulting 
the works named here. 

Bede's Ecclesiastical History; Ethelwerd's 
Chronicle ; The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle ; 
Simeon of Durham; Henry of Huntingdon; 
William of Malmsbury ; Nennius's History 
of the Britons ; Wright's Celt, Roman, and 
Saxon ; The Herinskringls and Egill's Saga; 
Wright's Wanderings of an Antiquary; 
Wright's Biographia Britanica Literaria ; 
Drake's York ; Wellbeloved's Eburacum ; 
Coins of the Ancient Britons, by John 
Evans, F.S A. ; The English Language, and 
the Germania of Taeitus, by Dr. Latham; 
Phillips's Rivers, Mountains, and Sea-coast of 
Y orkshire ; Conybeare' s Illustrations of Saxon 
Poetry ; Thorpe's Translation of Credmon ; 
Monumenta Historica Britannica, published 
by command of Her Majesty Queen Vic- 
toria; Turner's History of the Anglo-Sax- 
ons ; Lappenberg's England under the Anglo- 
Saxons ; Whitaker's Loidis and Elmete, also 
his History of Craven, and Thoresby's 
Ducatus. 



RACES OF MEN IN YORKSHIRE. 

The following remarks on the races of men 
in Yorkshire, may very properly be appended 
to the foregoing; they are by Professor 
Phillips, and are copied from his interesting 
work " On the Mountains, Rivers, and Sea- 
coasts of Yorkshire. " 

" The elements of the population of York 
shire are found in the British Aborgines, th e 
soldiers and colonists brought by Rome, and 
the Saxons, Anglians, Danes and Northmen • 
Of these, if we may credit the names of 
places and the course of history, the most 
influential must be the races, which, accord- 
ing to all research, came to us from the fiords 
of Norway, the shores of the Baltic, and the 
mouths of the Elbe and neighbouring rivers. 
Now, all these people, except a part of the 
Norwegians, are of the blue- eyed German 
race, as it was understood by Tacitus, and as 
it appears to-day in North Germany, Den- 
mark, nnd Sweden. Among the Northmen 
are two races — one identical with the Swedish, 
the other forming a peculiar Norwegian type 
— stout rather than tall men, of a deeper, 
more swarthy tint, darker hair, darker eyes, 
and a different cast of features. 

The Romans brought to this country the 
blood of Italy, Spain and Gaul ; of Ger- 
many and Dalmatia; the proportion of the 
latter races being probably greatest in the 

15 



RACES OF MEN IN YORKSHIRE. 



decline of the Western empire. In their 
descendants we can only hope to distinguish 
two groups; one collecting itself round the 
GalloGermanic type, a tall, fair and long- 
haired race, the other approaching to the 
more delicate Iberian people, with embrowned 
skin, and very dark hair and eyes. Such a 
Colonization of Britain could not materially 
alter the original aspect of the people, except 
by increasing the admixture and diminishing 
the peculiarities of the several varieties. 

The British race presented to Tacitus three 
varieties; one, derived from Gaul, occupied 
the southern and south-eastern coasts; one, 
allied to Germany, formed the Caledonian 
people; and the third, exemplified by the 
Silurian, was compared to the Iberians, and 
believed to be their descendents. The locali- 
ties of these tribes are clearly marked, but 
we are not compelled to suppose them strictly 
confined to these localities; doubtless they 
were much intermingled, as in later times, in 
the same regions, similar races have been. 
There is no word in history which defines the 
relation of the Brigantes to the three types 
of Tacitus, and there is no doubt all Britain 
spoke the same language. 

If, without regard to any real or supposed 
evidence of their national origin, we attempt 
to class the actual population of Yorkshire 
in natural groups, we shall find, excluding 
Irish, and some Craven colonists; three main 
types frequently distinct, but as often con- 
fused by interchange of elementary features. 

1. Tall, large boned, muscular persons; 
visage, long, angular ; complexion fair, or 
florid ; eyes blue, or grey; hair light, brown, 
or reddish. Such persons in all parts of the 
country form a considerable part of the popu- 
lation. In the North Riding, from the 
eastern coast to the western mountains, they 
are plentiful. Blue eyed families prevail 
very much about Lincoln. 

2. Persons robust; visage oval, full and 



rounded ; nose often slightly aquiline; com- 
plexion somewhat embrowned, florid ; eyes 
brown, or grey ; hair brown, or reddish. In 
the West Riding, especially in the elevated 
districts, very powerful men have these char- 
acters. 

3. Persons of lower stature and smaller 
proportions; visage short, rounded; com- 
plexion embrowned ; eyes very dark, elonga- 
ted ; hair very dark (such eyes and hair are 
commonly called black). Individuals hav- 
ing these characters occur in the lower 
grounds of Yorkshire, as in the valley of the 
Aire below Leeds, in the vale of the Der- 
went, and the level regions south of York. 
They are still more frequent in Nottingham- 
shire and Leicestershire, and may be said to 
abound amidst the true Anglians of Norfolk 
and Suffolk. The physical characters here 
traced cannot be, as Dr. Prichard conjectures 
in a parellel in Germany, the effect of some 
centuries of residence in towns, for they are 
spread like an epidemic among the rural and 
secluded population as much as among the 
dwellers in towns. Unless we suppose such 
varieties of appearance to spring up" among 
the blue-eyed races, we must regard them as 
a legacy from the Roman colonists and the 
older Britains, amongst whom, as already 
stated, the Iberian element waa conjecturally 
admitted. 

Adopting this latter view, there is no diffi- 
culty in regard to the other groups. They 
are of North German and Scandinavian 
origen, and the men of Yorkshire inherit the 
physical organization, and retain many of the 
peculiarities of their adventurous sires. In 
the words employed, in the vowel sounds, 
in the elisions, and the construction of sen- 
tences, the Yorkshire dialects offer interesting 
analogies to the old English of Shakspeare 
and Chaucer, the Anglo-Saxon of the Chroni- 
cle, and the Norse, as it is preserved to us 
by the Icelanders." 




THE PARISH OF BRADFORD: 



AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



THE NORMAN INVASION. 

With the defeat of Harold at the battle of 
Hastings, and the coronation of William Duke 
of Normandy as king of England, in the 
year 1066, a new era began in Britain, Se- 
veral years of dire bloodshed inaugurated 
the new rule of the Norman plunderers and 
adventurers. In the year following William 
the Bastard's coronation, a revolt against his 
rule took place in Yorkshire, Northumber- 
land, Durham, etc., and the Conqueror swore 
by the splendour of God, his usual oath, that' 
he would not leave a soul alive in these 
counties; and this threat was almost in- 
stantly carried literally into effect. 

Thierry says in his account, that, — " leav- 
ing Lincoln, the invading army marched 
upon York, and at a place where the streams, 
whose Junction forms the great river Hum- 
ber, approach each other, they encountered 
the confederated army of the Anglo- Saxons, 
and the Welsh. There as at the battle of 
Hastings, by their superiority in numbers 
and in armour, they drove the enemy from 
their position, which they vainly endeavoured 
to defend foot by foot. A great number of 
the English perished, the rest sought an 
asylum within the walls of York ; but the 
conquerors, closely pursuing them, made a 
breach in the walls and entered into the town, 
massacreing all, say the chronicles, jrom in- 
fants to old men. " Simeon of Durham, an 
old historian, relates, — " That the country 
between York and Durham was so devas- 
tated that it lay waste for nine years ; and 
that the inhabitants who escaped, eat rats, 
mice, and other vermin to sustain life." 

But the sturdy spirit of the Anglo-Saxon 
could not be destroyed by cruelty or defeat, 
for " the Norman conquerors of England 
were rapidly absorbed by the conquered peo- 
ple; and the union of the two races took 
place at a period much earlier than has 
generally been stated by our historians. 
Though beaten in the field, after a long and 
stern struggle for their independence, and 
though perhaps decimated by seven years of 

Hojlkcyd's Collectanea, No. 2. 



dreadful war and carnage, the Saxons re- 
mained incomparably more numerous than 
their invaders, and it was considered an 
easier and a wiser task to conciliate them 
than to exterminate them. From his first 
coming into England, and, indeed, before his 
arrival, William the Conqueror had a strong 
party among the Saxon and Dano- Saxon 
thanes ; this party rejoiced at his coming, 
and grew in numbers and strength after the 
battle of Hastings. To keep it steady to his 
interests, William at a very early period be- 
gan to give these great thanes Norman wives. 
Several of these wives were of the highest 
rank. Thus the Conqueror gave his own 
niece Judith in marriage to the great Saxon 
Earl Waltheof, whose warlike qualities, and 
great popularity with the Saxon people, 
might have made him formidable as an enemy 
many years after the catastrophe at Hastings. 
William even promised one of his own daugh- 
ters to Edwin, Earl of Mercia, brother-in- 
law to the late King Harold ; and it would 
have taken place, if suspicions had not been 
excited by the conduct of Edwin, who soon 
after fled from the Conqueror's court to put 
himself at the head of a formidable insur- 
rection in the north country. Other young 
maidens from beyond sea, sisters or daughters 
to some of the noblest of the Conqueror's 
followers, were affianced to the sons of rich 
Saxons who had hoped to preserve their 
wealth by remaining quiet. But the more 
frequent inter- marriages among the chiefs 
of the two nations were those in which Nor- 
man barons and knights espoused Saxon 
heiresses. The fathers and brothers of many 
noble thanes, and of many great holders of 
land, perished in battle at Hastings, or in the 
course of the seven years' war which followed 
that event ; and by the ordinary dispositions 
of nature there was many a rich Saxon 
family that had daughters and no sons By 
right of his feudal supremacy and kingly 
prerogative, William became guardian to all 
these Saxon orphans, and disposed of their 
lands and fortunes as he chose ; and over 
such heiresses as were not orphans he could 
exercise a control through their peace-seek- 
ing fathers. It is mentioned by several of 
the chroniclers, who were either contem- 
porary or lived near the time, that many of 
the Norman and foreign adventurers who 
made part of William's first army of in- 



THE NORMAN INVASION. 



vasion, made no other bargain with him than 
that they should be married to Saxon heir- 
esses, or to other rich young women in Eng- 
land." 

41 But besides the real Normans, or the 
men of mixed race, who came over with the 
Conqueror from Norway and the shores of 
the North Sea, there were numerous adven- 
turers from other parts of the continent, that 
came with the first expedition, or that re- 
paired to his standard afterwards; for during 
the seven years 1 war he was frequently hard 
pressed by the Saxons, and compelled to 
bring over numerous bodies of recruits. In 
the first expedition there were men that came 
from Maine and Anjou, from Poictou and 
Bretagne, from central France and from 
southern France, from Burgundy and from 
Aquitaine; and to these were added volun- 
teers and soldiers of fortune from the great 
plains of Italy at the foot of the Alps All 
this enlarged and varied — and no doubt ad- 
vantageously — the new blood which was 
mixed with the Anglo-Saxon. Of these 
more southern adventurers, many who had 
brought little else with them than a suit of 
chain armour, a lance, and a few hungry and 
bold followers, attained to high rank and 
command, married Saxon women, and became 
the founders of noble families."* 

Prominent amongst these was Ilbert de 
Lacy, who was created Baron of Pontefract 
in the year 10J0. Ilbert de Laci, or Lacy, 
was the first to enter on the conquest of the 
"West Riding of Yorkshire, where he met 
and defeated the gallant but untrained Nor- 
thumbrians. Here he destroyed the nation- 
ality and hopes of the Saxons, and subdued 
all the couatry between Pontefract and 
Blackburn in Lancashire. All this land 
afterwards became his barony, for William 
his royal master gave or granted to him the 
whole, which included nearly two hundred 
manors, berewicks, and sokes. This man 
whom the king delighted thus to honour, had 
been in his own country, Normandy, a baron 
of great importance. He was the owner of 
fJois V Eveque, near Darnetal. To his re- 
tainers and followers he gave ample shares 
of the lands which he had won, some of 
whom he made tenants-in-chief, whilst others 
received free grants of the lands of which he 
had dispossessed and robbed the rightful 
owners. A long account of the Lucy's and 
the descendants of this Ilbert, might he 
given here, but it would serve no useful pur- 



pose. Those who wish to know more may 
consult Whitaker's ' History of Whalley, ' 
aud Wilson's Yorkshire Pedigrees in the 
Leeds Old Library. 

Below, I give a complete list of all the man- 
ors, berewicks and sokes, inYorkshire, granted 
to Ilbert de Lacy by the Conqueror. This list 
has been kindly furnished to me by Mr. 
Charles Forrest, senr., of Lofthouse, near 
Wakefield, who possesses a copy of Bawden's 
translation of the Doomsday Book for York- 
shire. In a note he says — "Some places 
occur twice, as a manor, a berewick, or from 
change of tenant some are indicated by the 
tenants name, for instance, — Seacroft is five 
manors in the hands of Ode, Nuieling, Temar, 
Stainulf and Ragenild; I have therefore 
given all the places by name, whether as a 
manor, berewick, or soke only. I have given 
both the ancieut spelling and the modern 
name where the author has ascertained it, 
and where I have added anything of my own 
it is within brackets." 

MANORS IN YORKSHIRE GIVEN 
BY WILLIAM THE NORMAN TO 
1LBERT-DE-LACY, from Bawden's 

"DOMBOC." 

In Siraches — Skyrack.* 

M Chipesch Kippax. 

Ledestune Ledstou. 

LAND Bereuut Berwick. 

s Alretune Allerton By water. 

s Prestune Preston. 

s Suilligtune Swillington. 

s Gereford& Mauor Garforth. 

s Sceltune Skelton. 

s Caldecotes Caldcotes. 

s Colletun Colton. 

s Ossetorp Osmanthorpe. 

s Mainetune (Manston) 

s Chidal and M Kiddal 

s Potertun Potterton 

s Chipertun Kepstorn 

s Perlinctune & B Parlington 

s Cuford 

Seipene M 

StretunBandM (Stretton). 

Halletune Halton. 

Sacroft (called 61 e ,. 

Manors) .„_} SeaCro,t ' 

Torneve.e(3 Manns )Thorner. 

Alretoo Allerton Chapel. 



IS 



Penny Magazine. 



« included in 
Skyrack - C.F. 



MANORS IN YORKSHIRE, ETC. 



Bretebi •> 
Watecroft J 




Hoctvn 


Houghton (Qr.) 




Queldale 


Wheldale. 


Cipetun 


Gipton. 


Fristone 


Frystone. 


Coleton 


Gepton. 


Fereia 


Ferry (Bridge) 


Neuhusum 


Newsome. 


Notingeleia 


Knottingley. 


Torp 


Thorpe. 


Begale 


Beaghall. 


Snitertun 


Snitterton. 


Chelinctone 


Kellington. 


Lied 




Ruhale 


Rowle 


Ledes 


Leeds. 


Eburg 


Esbrough. 


Hedingeleia 
Saxtun 


Headingley. 
Saxton. 


Tateshalle 


/Tanshelf(Pori. 
1 tefract). 


Burtone 


Burton. 


Manestorp 


Mensthorp. 


Bretone 


Brayton. 


Barnebi 


Barn by. 


Torp B 


Thorp. 
-(Hunchil had it, 


Silchestone 


Silkstone. 


Hvnchilhvse 


hence Hunchil- 
j house. — Query, 


In Stancros- 


-Staincross. 




^ where ? 


Chineslai 


Kinsley. 


Barchestun 


Barkston. 


Hamelesworde 


Hemsworth. 


Fentun 


Fenton. 


Breselai 


Brierley. 


Eie 


(Ryall). 


Hindeleia 


Hiendley. 


Hameltun 


Hambleton. 


Rorestone 


Royston. 


Berchinge 


Birkin. 


Dodeswrde 


Dodworth. 


Nivveton 


Newton. 


Caltorne 


Cawthorn. 


• Fareburne 


Fairburn. 


Pangeston 




Ledesba 


Ledsham. 


Berg 


Bargh. 


Grimeston 


Grimston. 


Dertone 


Darton. 


Chirchebi 


Kirkby. 


Chizeburg 


Kexborough. 


Newebusv 


Newsome. 


Hoi ant 


HoyJand. 


Witewde 


Whitwood. 


Sceptone 


qu. Shafton. 


Mileforde 


Milford. 


Carlentone 


Carlton. 


Ermeshale 


Elmsal. 


Wircesburg 


Worsborough. 


Torp 


Moorthorpe. 


Turgesland 


Thurgoland. 


Cherchebi 


South-Kirk by. 


Stainburg 


Stainborough. 


Frichehale 


F rick ley. 


Crevesford 


Kerrisforth. 


Nortone 


Norton. 


Berneslai 


Barns ley. 


Cansale 


Campsall. 


Dertone 


Darton. 


Burg 


Burgh Wallis. 


Notoue 


Notton. 


Scanhalla 


Skellow. 


Cevet 


Chevet. 


Avstun 


Owston. 


Hiadeleia 


Heindley. 


Nevvose 




Hunescelf 


Hunshelf. 


Sutone 


Sutton. 


Turulfstune 


Thurlstou. 


Scaiebre 


Skelbrook. 


Berceworde 


Ing-Birohworf:-,. 


Hanepol . 


Hampole. 


Scelmertorp 


Skelmanthoi p , 


Eistop 


Stubbs. 


Deoeby 


Denby. 


Badesvvrde 


Bads worth. 


Combreworde 


Cumberwori : . 


Vltone 


Upton. 


Claitone 


Clayton We,!. 


Rugartorp 


Rogertborpe. 


Brettone 


Bretton. 


Torp 


Thorp Audiin. 


Osprinc 


Oxspring. 


Smedetoue 


Smeaton. 


Bercewrde 


Rough Birchwojih. 


Wl meres leia 


Womersley. 


Holan 


Hoy land. 


Stapletone 


Stapleton. 


Rihella 


Ryehill. 


Darningtone 


Darington. 






Acevvrde 


A ck worth. 


In Hagebrige- 


— Agbridge. 


Hasele 


Hasle. 






Frerestane 


Featherstone. 


Medelai 


Methley. 


Preatone 


Purs ton. 


Aitone 


Aikelon. 


Arduwic 


Hardwick. 


Westrebi 


Westerby. 


Osele 


qu. Nostal. 


Snitehala 


Snidal. 



MANORS IN YORKSHIRE, ETC. 



Scrotone 


Crofton. 


Witewde 


Whitwood. 


Flochetone 


Flockton. 


Denebi 


Den by. 


Leptone 


Lepton. 


HeptoDe 


Hepton. 


Dal ton 


Dalton. 


Almaneberie 


Aldmondbury. 


Fereleia 


Farnley Tyas. 


Haneleia 


Honley. 


Meltham 


Meltham. 


Hoptone 


Hopton. 


Oderesf'elt 


Huddersfield. 


Bradeleia 


Bradley. 


Lillaia 


Lilley. 


Cornebi 




Gudlagesarc 


qu Golker. 


Croisland 


Crossland. 


Torni 


Thornhill. 


Witelaia 


Whitley. 


Daltone 


Dalton. 


In Moreleia— Morley. 


Moreleia 


Morley 


Rodewelle 


Roth well. 


Lostose 


Loftbouse. 


Carlentone 


Carlton. 


Torp 


Thorpe-on-the-Hill. 


Mildetone 


Middleton. 


Erdeslawe 


Ardsley. 


Ristone. 




Ermelai 


Armley. 


Podecbesaie 


Pudsey. 


Brameleia 


Bramley. 


Pes tone 


Beestou. 


Hunslet 


Hunslet. 


(Jalverleia 


Calverley. 


Ferselleia 


Farsley. 


Tuinc 


long. 


Dreslintone 


Driglington. 


Gomershale 


Gomersal. 


Bradeford 


Bradford. 


Bndelto: e 


Bolton. 


Celeslau 


Chellow. 


Alrctone 


Allertcn. 


Torentone 


Thornton. 


Claitone 


Clayton. 


Wibeteee 


Wibscy. 


Bollinc 


Bowling. 


Scipeleia 


Ship! 


Birle 


Bur ley. 


VYiche 


Wyke. 


Hetone 


lit atnn. 


Clittone 


Clifton, 


Mirefelt 


Mirfield. 


leia 


Batley. 


Livr< 


Livereedg 



Horteseve 

Elant 

Overe 



Hartshead. 
Elland. 
On ram. 



Ji- 



lt will thus be seen that after the Saxon 
thane Gamel, Ilbert de Lacy was the first 
Lord of Bradford. 



THE PARISH OF BRADFORD.. 
By Thomas Dunham Whitaker, L.L.D. 

Another member of the ancient Saxon 
parish of Dewsbury. In Domesday it is 
thus surveyed 

Manor. In Bradeford, with six Berewicks, 
Gamel had fifteen carucates of land to be 
taxed, where there may be eight ploughs. 
Ilbert has it, and it is waste. Value in 
King Edward's time, £4. Wood pasture 
half a mile long and half a mile broad. 

Manor. Iu Bodeltone Archil had four 
carucates of Land to be taxed, where there 
may be two ploughs. Ilbert has it, and it is 
waste. Value in K. E. T. 10s. This Land 
belongs to this Manor. Celeslau (Cbellow), 
Alretone, Torentone, Claitone, Wibetese 
(Wibsey). To be taxed together, 10 Caru- 
cates of Land, where there may be 6 ploughs. 
It is waste. Value in K. E. T. 40s. ; it is 
now nothing. 

Manor. In Bollinc Sindi had four caru- 
cat s of Land, which paj-eth to the geld, 
where there may be two ploughs. Ilbert 
has it, and it is waste. Value in King Ed- 
ward's time 5s. 

Manor. In Scipeleia Ravenchil had three 
carucates of Land to be taxed, where there 
may be two ploughs. Ilbert has it, and it 
is waste. Value in King Edward's time 
10s. Wood pasture, one mile long, and \ 
mile broad. 



• This account of the Parish of Bradford 
is copied from a work eu titled — *' Loidis and 
El mete, or an Attempt to Illustrate the Dis- 
tiicts described in those words by Bede; and 
supposed to embrace the Lower Portions of 
Airedale and Wharfedale, together with the 
entire vale of Calder, in the County of York. 
Printed by E. Davison, for Robinson, Son, 
and Holdsworth. Leeds; and Hurst, Wake- 
field. MDCCXVI. " See Note (1), at the 
end of this pap< r. 



THE PARISH OF BRADFORD. 



Manor. In Birle, Stainulf had four caru- 
cates of Land to be taxed, where there may 
be two ploughs. Ilbert has it, and it is 
waste. Value in King Edward's time 10s. 
Wood pasture half a mile long, and | mile 
broad. 
Manor. In Wicke Stainulf, etc.* 
On this account, it must be observed, that 
several villages in the parish are omitted, 
and that six berewicks under Bradford are 
enumerated, without being named. These 
berewicks, in ail probability, were Great and 
Little Horton, Manningham, Denholme, 
Haworth, Oxenhope. 

Bradford itself was depopulated and waste, 
and no superiority is ascribed to it, even in a 
feudal sense, over any part of the parish, its 
own berewicks excepted. Here was no 
church, no parish, no castle, no manor-house, 
no leet. The whole district was immediately 
dependent on Pewsbury in an ecclesiastical, 
aud on Pontefract. in a civil capacity. In 
the course of two hundred and forty years, 
all these things either existed, or had existed 
in the interval. How then, it may be asked, 
did a Saxon village, depopulated and waste, 
acquire these distinctions ? It is impossible 
to answer such a question with certainty; 
but it is always pleasant aud often satisfac- 
tory to speculate upon probable grounds, 
where positive evidence is wanted, the fol- 
lowing conjectures may be accepted. 

The great family of Lacy became seised 
of the honour of Clitheroe, and erected a 
castle there within a few years after the 
Conqueror's bounty put them in possession 
of the richer fee of Pontefract. 

From Pontefract to Clitheroe, a space of 
somewhat more than fifty miles, the greatest 
part of which extends over a bleak and deso- 
late country. A line drawn from one of these 
points to the other would pass nearly over 
Bradford. At Leeds, the Lacies had a 
castle, and at Colne a manor-house, but these 
places were forty miles from each other, and 
therefore an intermediate resting place was 
wanted. The name of burgenses in the fol- 
lowing inquisition proves that there had been 
a castle at Bradford, though there was only 
then a manor-house; some of the earlier 
Lacies, therefore, most have erected a small 
fortress there, and the protection afforded by 
a fortress always attracted inhabitants. This 



* Whitaker gives an exact copy of the 
original, but as this work is intended for the 
people, I have given Bawden's Translation 
for Yorkshire. See Note (2). 



was the first principle of a town. The in- 
convenient distance of the place, and still 
more so of the remoter parts of the present 
parish from Dewsbury would now occur. 
The Lacies were a devout and munificent 
family; and at the representation of the 
people of Bradford, an agreement would be 
made with the Earls Warren, a stipend in 
lieu of tithes and other rights settled upon 
the rector of Dewsbury, a rectorial glebe 
and tithes assigned to the incumbent of the 
new parish, and a church erected. 

I now go on to the inquisition after the 
death of Henry de Lacy, the last Earl of 
Lincoln, which happened in 1311, to prove 
by whatever means, all these things had 
taken place in the interval. 

" The Earl had at Bradford a Hall ( Aulum) 
or Manor-house, with chambers, and it is 
nothing worth beyond necessary repairs, and 
there are there forty acres in demesne, de- 
mised to divers tenants at will and the value 
whereof yearly, is (8d. an acre) £1 6s. 8d. 
And there is one Water-mill valued by the 
year at £\0, And a Fulling Mill, which is 
worth yearly £\. And there is a certain 
market every seventh day, upon the Lord's 
DiY, the toll of which is worth yearly £3. 
And there is a certain fair, which is held 
annually upon the Feast of Saint Andrew 
the Apostle, the toll of which is worth yearly 
£3. And there are certain Villains who 
hold twenty- three Oxgangs of land in bond- 
age, and render yearly, at the Feast of Saint 
Martin, (4s. for every Oxgang,) £l 16s. 
And the same Villains do work in autumn, 
which is worth yearly, for every Oxgang, 

The parish of Bradford is about fifteen 
miles in length, and at an average four in 
breadth; it contains, therefore, forty thous- 
and acres more or less. Of these, little more 
than fifteen hundred appear to have been re- 
claimed at the time of the inquisition, or 
1316. There were twenty-eight burgage- 
houses, a few free tenants at will, and a few 
in bondage, but from the smallness of their 
rents, their numbers cannot have been con- 
siderable. If we suppose them to have 
equalled the burgesses, it will perhaps give a 
fair estimate of the population of the town. 
The profits of the Corn-mill amounted to 
more than one-fourth of all the lord's receipts 
for the parish. The soke must therefore 
have extended over the whole. From the 



* I have here given the translation from 
Hopkiuson's MS.S. See Note (3). 



THE PARISH OF BRADFORD. 



existence of a Fulling-mill, I do not see how 
we can avoid infeiring that the cloth manu- 
factory had commenced. To that also a soke 
belonged. The market was held on the 
Lord's- day, a concession (however inexcus- 
able) to the circumstances of the greater part 
of the paiish; for the church was situated 
at one extremity, and few, perhaps, would 
have resorted to it from the more distant 
quarters, who had not the additional induce- 
ment of purchasing and carrying home 
necessaries for their families. The glebe of 
the church was eight oxgangs, or one caiu- 
cate, which, according to another survey, 
extended to ninety-six acres; so that the 
oxgang at Bradford equalled twelve acres. 
AH the old manors mentioned in Domesday 
wore now absorbed in that of Bradford, and 
one court, from three weeks to three weeks, 
after the time of the union, was holden for 
the whole. The next inquisition about two 
hundred and fifty years later, will show that 
they had once more been granted out. 

But in that interval a singular grant oc- 
curs which will go far towards establishing 
my 'conjecture, that the Lacies, and after 
there the Plantagenets, took Bradford in 
their way from Pontefract into Blackburn- 
shire." 

Know all present and future that I 

John Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, have given 
and granted, and by this my present charter 
have confirmed, unto John Northrop of 
Manyingham, three messuages and six ox- 
gangs of land, and sufficient common ot land 
to the same, in Manyingbam aforesaid, lying 
and abutting upon one biook running be- 
tween Manyingham and Horton on the 
south; upon one small brook called Bull- 
royd syke on the west part; on the north 
between Manyingham and Heaton to the 
height where the rain water divides ; and 
on the east part upon one small brook called 
Shaw-syke, to the water which runneth by 
Bradford ; with all and singular the liberties 
and easements in Manyingham aforesaid. 
To have and to hold the three messuages and 
six oxgangs of land, with sufficient common 
to the same belonging and appertaining with 
the conveniences to the aforesaid John 
a ^' on, his heirs and assigns, of the chief 

Norfhi. , f e e thereof, by his services due 
lord of tbfc ^customed. Rendering there- 
and of right ^, - heirs coming to Bradford, 
fore to me and m,, ' ^rn, upon St. Martin's 
one blast with hia i» % nding upon me and 
day, in winter; and attb. r(1 ,r<,m Black- 

my heirs- coining to Bradt*. hunting dog, 

buraabire, with ore Jance anu il)ans 

for the space of forty days bavin* 



board, one penny for himself, and a half- 
penny for the dog, per day, and rendering as 
well one of his best cattle, on the day of 
death for releif ; and going with my receiver 
or bailiff to conduct him with his friends 
safe to Pontefract, whenever the same shall 
be faithfully required. And I truly, the 
aforesaid John Gaunt, and my heirs, the 
aforesaid three messuages and six oxgangs of 
land, with sufficient common, and all other 
the premises before mentioned, to the afore- 
said John Northrop and his heirs, against all 
men, will warrant and forever defend. In 
witness whereof, I have to this present 
writing put opposite my seal. — Dated at 
Lancaster, 4th of August, Edward 3rd.*" 

After another interval of somewhat more 
than two centuries and a half, the inquisition 
of 1577 ascertains with great exactness the 
manors, vills, and hamlets, into which this 
parish was then divided. 

'MANOR OF BRADFORD.' 

< V. Allerton with H. Wilsden, V. Bolton, 
V. Boiling, V. Clayton, H. Heton with 
Frizinghall, V. Thornton with H. Cockham 
and 11. Hed ley, V. Horton, Little V. Hor- 
ton, Great V. Haworth with V. Oxenhope 
and V. Stanbury, V. Manningham with 
Northrop, V. Wyke, Capital messuage called 
Crosley Hall. The aforesaid villages and 
hamlets are within the liberty of the Duchy 
aforesaid, and the suit of the Court of View 
of Frank Pledge, of Bradford. 

Hawouth. — One carucate there, formerly 
of John Haworth, afterwards of Roger de 
Manynghham and John Buecroft, lately of 
John Rish worth, and now of Alexander 
Rish worth, held by the service of one-eighth 
part of a Knight's fee. In this Vil'age the 
aforesaid Alexander claimeth to have the 
manor by reason of the land aforesaid. 

Oxknhope. — Four oxgangs of land, for- 
merly of William Heton, afterwards of Wil- 
liam Eltofts, and now of Edmund Eltofts, 
gentleman, held by the service of one-eighth 
part of a Knight's fee, in which village he 
clumeth to have the manor by reason of the 
land aforesaid. 

Horton. — William Leventhorp formerly 



* In preference to giving the original Latin 
from Whitaker, I give the above translation 
from Hopkinson's MS.S., that my readers 
may understand it. 



THE PARISH OF BRADFORD. 



held in Horton and Clayton the third-part 
of one Knight's fee. 

Clayton. — John Lacye, gentleman, held 
the third part of one Knight's fee, in which 
village he claimeth to have the manor by 
leason of the tenure aforesaid. 

Bolungp. — William Bollinge formerly 
held in Bollinge the third part of one Knight's 
fee, afterwards John Bollinge, and now 
Richard Tempest, gentleman, in which he 
claimeth to have the manor by reason of the 
fee aforesaid. 

Clayton. — William de Clayton formerly 
held in Clayton ten oxgangs of land, after- 
wards John Bollinge, late Robert Bollinge, 
and now Richard Tempest, gentleman, the 
same ten oxgangs are held by Knight's ser- 
vice. 

Jordan us de Birkby formerly held in 
Clayton one carucate, afterwards Thomas 
Matthewson, senr., and now Richard Tem- 
pest, gentleman, by Knight's service. 

Allerton. — Thomas Thornton held in 
Allerton, in Bradford dale, half a knight's 
fee, afterwards John Bollinge. and now 
JRichard Tempest, gentleman. Six oxgangs 
of land and a half there, formerly Thomas 
de Thornton held of the Duchy of Lancas- 
ter, which to the hands of the late king, 
Henry the 8th, came by reason of the disso- 
lution of the late monastery of Byland, and 
now in the tenure of Richard Tempest, 
gentleman, and Robert Savile, gentleman, 
One oxgang of land there, formerly Thomas 
de Thornton held of the Duchy of Lan- 
caster, which to the hands of the late king, 
Henry the 8th, came by reason of the disso- 
lution of the late monastery of Pontefract. 

Thornton. — Roger de Thornton formerly 
held in Thornton, two carucates, afterwards 
Thomas de Thornton, late Tristram de Boi- 
ling, and now Richard Tempest, gentleman, 
in which village he claimeth to have the 
manor by reason of the land aforesaid. 

Heton. — Lady Margaret Leedes formerly 
held two carucates in Heton, before Roger 
de Leedes, as appears by record, afterwards 
Jane Pigott, late Lady Hustey, now Henry 
Bat, in which village he claims to have the 
manor by reason of the land aforesaid.*' 



* Eccleshill and Shipley are not enumer- 
ated in this inquisition among the mesne 
manors dependent upon the leet of Bradford. 
Wyke, which is so enumerated, is in the 
parish of Birstall. The translation from 
Hopkinson's MS.S., is given, instead of the 
Latin of Whitaker. 



This inquisition, so accurate and satisfac- 
tory with respect to the manors, tenures, etc., 
in the parish throws no light on the progress 
of population; but in the reign of Henry 
the 8th, we have an original and curious 
account of the place from Leland. 

1 Bradeforde, a praty, quik market toune, 
dimidio aut eo amplius minus Wackefelda. 
It hath one paroche Cljurche, an a chapel of 
Saint Sitha. It standith much by clothing, 
and is distant vi miles from Halifax, and 
four miles from Christeal abbay. There is a 
confluence in this toune of three brokes. 
One riseth above Bouline Haul, so that the 
head is a mile dim, from the toune, and this 
at the toune hath a bridge of one arche. 
Another risethe a 11 mile of, having a mille 

and a bridge of 

The 3 risethe four miles off, having . . . 

The relative difference of Leeds and Brad- 
ford was very different at that time and at 
present;* for "Ledis," saith Leland, "two 
miles lower than Christal abbay, on Aire 
rywer, is a praty market, having one paroche 
church, reasonably well builded, (that is the 
toune, not the church.) and as large as Brade- 
forde, but not so quik as it." 

These brooks before and after their con- 
fluence, are unnamed on the old maps; and 
"aqua qua? currit per Bradeforde" is the 
only designation which I have met with in 
any charter or inquisition. But the course 
of this stream, and its final union with the 
Aire, entitles the parish of Bradford to be 
considered as one of the collateral vallies of 
Airedale, though its ancient ecclesiastical 
dependence on Dewsbury connected it with 
that of the Calder. It is not easy to account 
for the origin of the name; for though there 
can scarcely be a doubt that it refers to the 
ford at the bottom of the church brow, yet 
that ford is so insignificant as not to entitle it, 
ou any common principle of comparative 
measurement, to the epithet " broad. ' 

In one of the oldest attestations to a 
charter of this neighbourhood which I have 
seen this name is spelt Braforthe, as it is 
sometimes pronounced by the common peo- 
ple even now. This would have denoted the 
ford by the brae or brow; but the elder tes- 
timony of Domesday, which exhibits the 
common spelling of the word, seems to be 
decisive on the other side. 

Of the probable origin, and of the date of 
the church, I have already spoken. It must 
originally have been an opulent benefice, as 



Dr. Whitaker wrote this, about 1812. 

23 



THE PARISH OF BRADFORD. 



there was an endowed vicarage for many 
years, while the rectory continued to be pre- 
sentative, a circumstance which never took 
place but where wealth had rendered the in- 
cumbent idle. During this period the vicarage 
was in the rector's patronage. Not a vestige 
of the original fabric is extant. It must 
have been comparatively small ; and the date 
of a great increase of population by means 
of the woollen manufacture may nearly be 
ascertained by the area of the present spacious 
church, which is known to have been erected 
in the'reign of Henry 6th, and was finished 
in the 36th of his reign. The tower was 
of later date, and finished in or about the 
23rd of Henry 7th. Parish rates were then 
levied slowly, and accordingly it was fifteen 
years in being built. The chapel of St. 
Sitha, mentioned by Leland, seems to have 
been a detached foundation, not a chantry in 
the church, but all memory of the site and 
name has perished. 

The advowson of the rectory of Bradford 
was given to the College of Leicester, called 
the Newark, by Henry, Duke of Lancaster ; 
and in the year 1416 a second vicarage was 
endowed by Henry Bowett, Archbishop of 
York, reseiving to himself and successors a 
pension of 20s. per ann. ; and to the dean 
and chapter 6s. 5d. to be paid to the college ; 
20g. annually to be given to the poor, and 
the vicar's portion to continue as before. 

After the dissolution of colleges and chan- 
tries, the advowson of this church, together 
with that of Calverley, was given by Queen 
Mary, to the Archbishop of York ; but, for 
some reason which does not appear, the arch- 
bishops were never benefitted by the grant, 
and the crown continued to present. Since 
that period it is neither easy nor important 
to trace the successive transfers of this bene- 
fice from one private hand to another. 

In the reign of Jamest 1st, the rental of 
the rectorial glebe, consisting of 96 acres, 
was £%i 3s. 4d., and the value of the fee- 
simple, as fixed by Sir John Fortescue, Chan- 
cellor, and John Brograve, Attorney, of the 
duchy, was 16 years' purchase in 1332. 

From the survey of J 619, it appears that 
there was no monument in the church. In 
the choir window, was, alone, Bradford, viz., 
a lion's head erased, inter three bugle boms, 
S an annulet Arg. 

In the great window of the south choir 
were the coats of Badelsmere, Scargil, El- 
and, Boiling, and the Earl of Lancaster; 
this proves the erection to have taken place 
before the marriage of the heiress of Boiling 
with Sir Richard Tempest. The east win- 
dow is an awkward insertion, containing a 

24 



multitude of lights apparently about the 
time of James the First;* and I suspect the 
much handsomer though smaller window, 
which now appears on the south side of the 
choir, and eastward from the Boiling chapel, 
to have been the identical one which was 
removed on that occasion. 

From the numerous epitaphs which incrust 
the walls of the church, I shall select that of 
the indefatigable mathematician, Abraham 
Sharp Ludolph Van Ceulen, a Dutchman, 
computed the quadrature of the circle to 136 
places of decimals, and had the process in- 
scribed upon his tomb. Our countryman far 
(but I forget how far) surpassed him, yet has 
a much shorter epitaph. The long duration 
of his life proves that the pursuit of abstract 
science have no necessary tendency to ex- 
haust the constitution. 

H. S. E. 

Here lie buried 

The mortal remains 

Of Abraham Sharp, descended from an 

ancient family 
And united by the tie of blood relationship 
To the archbishop of York of that name ,- 
Who was justly reckoned among the most 

skilful Mathematicians of his time, 
And was intimate with those of his contem- 
poraries 
Who were most distinguished by the same 

renown ; 
Especially with Flamsteed,and the illustrious 

Newton : 
He illustrated the astronomy of the former 

by diagrams, with the greatest accuracy : 
He published also anonymously various 

writings, 
And descriptions of instiuments constructed 

by himself. 
When he had spent a quiet and useful un- 
married life, 
In these studies, 
Remarkable for his piety towards God, his 
kindness to the poor. 
And his benevolence to all men : 
At last, in the ninety first year of his age 
Replete with earthly knowledge he passed 
to heaven 
July 17th, 1742. 

Archbishop Sharp was born at Bradford, 



• The reader will remember that this win- 
dow was replaced by the present one, in 
1863, the gift of Mrs. Tolson. 



THE PARISH OF BRADFORD 



Feb. 16, 1644, the son of Thomas Sharp, a 
tradesman of that town. There is no doubt 
of the consanguinity with the Sharps of Lit- 
tle Horton; but Thoresby,(4) who, with a 
little more of that industry which he usually 
exerted on such occasions, might probably 
have discovered the connecting link, has in 
this instance neglected it. (5) 

The chapels in this parish are Haworth, 
Thornton, Wibsey. Horton, consecrated by 
Archbishop Markham, and a church or chapel 
of ease within the town, consecrated by the 
present Archbishop, Oct., 1815. # Haworth, 
alone, is prior, and not long prior, to the 
Reformation ; a tremendous anachronism, 
indeed, if we are to believe a modern in- 
scription near the steeple. Hie fuit coeno- 
bium Monachorum Autaste fundatore anno 
Christi Sexcentessimo — that is, before the 
first preaching of Christianty in North um- 
bria. The origin of this strange misappre- 
hension is visible on the adjoining stone. 
Orate pro bono statu Eutest'Tod, in the 
character of Henry the 8th's time. Now 
every antiquary knows that the formulary of 
praj T er, pro bono statu, always refers to the 
living. I suspect that this singular christian 
name has been mistaken by the stone-cutter 
for Eustat, a contraction of Eustatius ; but 
the word Tod, which has been misread for 
the Arabic numerals for 600, is perfectly fair 
and legible. I suspect, however, that some 
minister of the chapel has committed the 
twofold blunder, first, of assigning to the 
place this absurd and impossible antiquity ; 
and, secondly, of inferring the existence here 
of a monastery. 

On the presumption of this foolish claim 
to antiquity, the people would needs set up 
for independence, and contest the right of the 
vicar to nominate a curate. 

The chapel itself bears every mark of the 
reign of Henry the 8th, but has some pe- 
culiarities; as ex. gr. only two aisles, a row 
of columns up the middle, and three win- 
dows at the east end, one opposite to the 
columns. 

The ancient families of this parish have 
never been numerous, and are now either ex- 
tinct or removed. The truth is, that the 
greater part of it ascending to the confines of 
the moors, afforded not many very flattering 
situations to those who were in a condition 
to choose for themselves ; and for the rest, 
the genius of trade, as usual, has expelled 
the aristocracy. But in their places have 



The Hon. Ed. Venables Vernon. 



arisen many modern houses, in every direc- 
tion about the town, fruits of prosperous in- 
dustry, and rising in the scale from simple 
convenience almost to the confines of splen- 
dour. 

Boiling and Bierley, however, are to be 
distinguished as belonging to an higher orde*. 
The first of these was the manor and resi- 
dence of a family, bearing the same name 
from the origin of local surnames to the reign 
of Henry the 8th; when Rosamond, daugh- 
ter and heiress of Tristram Bolliig, married 
Sir Richard Tempest of Bracevvell, and there- 
by brought into that family not only Boiling, 
but the manors of Thornton and Denholme, 
with lands in Clayton and Oxenhope. In 
this line it continued till the civil wars, when 
Richard Tempest, a weak imprudent man, a 
royalist and a gambler, sold it to Henry 
Savile, Esq , of Xhornhill Green, the imme- 
diate ancestor of the present family. In the 
year 1668, Mr. Savile disposed of it co 
Francis Lindley, Esq., of Gray's Inn, in 
whose name it continued till the year 1760, 
when it descended to Thomas Pigot, Esq.* 
the heir at law, who settled it upon Charles 
Wood, Esq., a captain in the navy, who re- 
ceived a mortal wound, Sept. 3, 1782, in an 
engagement between Sir Edward Hughes 
and a French squadron, in the East Indies. 
On his death the manor of Bowling de- 
scended to his son, Sir Francis Wood, Bart., 
who sold it to John Sturges, John Green 
Paley and Mason, Esq. 

The house which is a large majestic build- 
ing, with a centre and two deep wings to the 
north, has been built at very different periods. 
The south front opening to the garden is 
terminated by two square towers of con- 
siderable but uncertain antiquity. The rest 
I think may safely be assigned to the Tem- 
pests, in the reign of Elizabeth. Next within 
the towers are two deep embayed windows, 
and between them the hall, which has one 
vast window of many square -headed lights. 
It is about thirty feet long, and has a plain 
plaster ceiling, which probably conceals a 
fine coved oaken roof; in the windows of this, 
and several other apartments, are many 
shields of arms, so unconnected with any 
families to whom the manor has belonged, 
that on surveying the house I was never more 
perplexed. There are indeed, as might be 
expected, several shields of the Tempests, 
but there are many of the Stanley's, and 
beneath an ordinary bearing are the words 
in black letter, Our Lady The Kinges 
Mother. These strong appearances re- 
mained unaccounted for, till I was informed 

25 



THE PARISH OF BRADFORD. 



that an old gentleman, related by marriage 
to one of the owners, had amused himself by 
picking up all the painted ulass which fell in 
his way, and inserting it into the windows; 
and particularly that he had procured some 
specimens from an old house of the Asheton 
family in Lancashire 

Now as Sir Richard Asheton, of Middle- 
ton, was one of the principal commanders at 
the siege of Latham, which was demolished 
to the ground as soon as it surrendered, I 
suspect that these relics of the Stanley's were 
part of the spoil, and that the inscription 
Our Lady The Kikges Mother had been 
attached to the arms of Lady Margaret of 
Richmond, mother of Henry 7th, whose last 
husband, Thomas, the first Earl of Derby, 
built that magnificent house. 

Bowling, like almost every considerable 
house in ancient times, had a park ; but after 
the Tempests became possessed of this manor, 
they indulged their propensity for the chase 
by impaling a large tract of wild and waste 
ground for red deer,- which, though long 
since disparked, retains the name of Den- 
holme Park.* Under that denomination it 
appears in Saxton's Map, A.D., 1577, so that 
it must have been enclosed at no long period 
after it came into the possession of the family 
by the dissolution of monasteries ; for Den- 
holme was abbey land, granted at a very early 
period by Will, de Scoch de Calverly to the 
abbot and convent of Byland. 

These wide wastes appear, from the survey 
of 1577, to have been granted to Sir Richard 
Tempest and Sir Robert Savile, the first of 
Hovvley, but fell into the hands of the Tem- 
pests not long after. The park was probably 
parcelled out on the ruin of the affairs of the 
last Tempests, in the Civil Wars of the 
reign of Charles 1st. 

Not far distant from Boiling is Bierley, a 
place distinguished for the intelligence and 
curiosity of its owners. Dr. Richard Richard- 
son (for where there is so much mind and 
character, I leave to the genealogists their 
own perpendicular and horizontal lines) was 
born at Bierley Hall, and educated in Uni- 
versity College, Oxford, where he took the 
degree of M.D. ; but inheriting a good es- 
tate, he made no other use of his medical 
skill than the gratuitous exercise of it ; and 
settling early at his paternal house, devoted 
a long life to science and elegant literature. 

* In one of Speed's maps published in 
1610, now in my possession, the wall of this 
park is distinctly marked. Part of the wall 
yet remains on the south west side. 

26 



He was a botanist, an antiquary, and a clas- 
sical scholar. These accomplishments pro- 
cured him the friendship of all the dis- 
tinguished literary characters of his time. 
Of his ingenious and curious pursuits there 
are some memorials yet remaining at Bierley, 
which deserve to be mentioned as illustrating 
the progress of. knowledge. 

John Blackburn", Esq., of Oxford, near 
Liverpool, built the first hot-house in the 
north of England ; and the same workmen, 
as soon as it was finished, proceeded to Bier- 
ley, where they constructed the second This, 
in my memory, was entire, and was princi- 
pally remarkable for being glazed like the 
windows of a cottage, with leaded squares. 
It was divided longitudinally, and as there 
was no flue but in the back wall, the pines 
and tender plants were placed nearest to that. 
A century ago Thoresby preseived the leaf 
of an anana in his museum, as an exotic 
curiosity. Another monument of Dr. Ri- 
chardson yet surviving, and, if left to itself, 
likely to survive for centuries, is one of the 
first cedars of Lib'inus ever planted in Eng- 
land. It was sent when a seedling by Sir 
Hans Sloan to Dr. Richardson, who kept it 
in a garden pot, and placed it carefully in 
the greenhouse during several successive 
winters ; but observing how much more 
healthy it grew in the open air, he planted 
it out in a corner of the flower garden, and 
it is now (1816) twelve feet four inches in 
circumference at a considerable distance a- 
bove the ground. There are two others in a 
thriving state, but of inferior size, having 
for some time, in the earlier part of their 
lives, been condemned to the discipline of the 
shears. Dr. Richardson also left a very valu- 
able library, out of which his granddaughter, 
Miss Currer,* who inherits the literary pro- 
pensities as well as the property of the 
family, has selected the best ai tides and 
greatly augmented them at Eshton. 

Richard Richardson, Esq., also doctor of 
physic of the University of Leyden, trod in 
his father's footsteps, planted much, and laid 
out the grounds, where, with great labour 
and expense, he constructed a Druidical cir- 
cle, in which the massy bulk and rude irreg- 
ularity of the stones is such, that if posterity 
were not informed of their real history, the 
fallacy might be unperceived. 

This extensive parish having had no Ro- 
man station, nor any monastic foundation 
within its limits, affords no other object of 
curiosity (6) 

# Now dead ; See Notice of. 



NOTES.— THOMAS DUNHAM WHITAKER. 



This place like most others in the manu- 
facturing districts, having addicted itself to 
the course of rebellion in the contest between 
the king and parliament, suffered severely 
from the vengeance of the royalists. A nar- 
rative of these transactions, drawn up by one 
Lister, a spectator, is extant; from which I 
shall extract the most important circum- 
stances ; something is also added from Fair- 
fax's Memoirs 

The inhabitants of Bradford having thought 
proper to convert their town into a garrison 
for the parliament, in the month of Decem- 
ber, 164"2, a large party of Royalists from 
Leeds encamped on that part of the common 
called Undercliff, and prepared to storm the 
town, which they did with great vigour, but 
were driven off. On the ISth of that month 
however, they received another visit from 
Leeds, where the Earl of Newcastle then 
was. This body was commanded by Goring, 
Sir William Savile, etc. Their first object 
appears to have been the church, which was 
really the fortress of the town, and more 
especially the steeple, which the townsmen 
had hung round with woolsacks. On this 
quarter the Royalists made a furious assault, 
during which Goring himself was once in the 
enemy's hands, but resued by a charge of his 
own troops. During this attack, a young 
man of family, meaning to surprise the 
church, turned out of the road to the left, 
and attempted to force his way through a 
house ; but being abandoned by his men, was 
compelled to ask quarter, which was barbar- 
ously refused, and himself slain on the spot. 
This, as might have been foreseen, was after- 
wards remembered. Again the Royalists 
were beaten off, and returned to Leeds; 
soon after which Fairfax, who began to per- 
ceive the value of such determined men, took 
possession of the town in person. 

Newcastle's quarters seem now to have 
been at Wakefield, in the direction of which 
Fairfax marched out and offered him battle. 
This brought on the action of Adwalton 
Moor, in which both the Fairfaxes, father 
and son, were totally routed. The old lord 
fled to Bradford -, Sir Thomas took the road 
to Halifax, but finding the way open, re- 
turned on the day following with his division 
to Bradford, where Newcastle prepared to 
besiege them in form. 

Bradford, surrounded by high grounds, is 
a most untenable place against a regular 
siege with cannon, which Newcastle, whose 
head quarters were at Bowling Hall, now 
brought to bear on the town, church, and 
steeple, the last of which was once more pro- 



tected by woolsacks. Fairfax now saw his 
danger, and determined to make his escape 
by a sally ; this he effected with considerable 
loss, and fought his way to Leeds, whence 
he retreated to Hull. In* this sally, near the 
summit of the hill, on the way from Brad- 
ford to Leeds, Lady Fairfax, who had bravely 
accompanied her husband through the cam- 
paign, was taken prisoner on horseback, but 
was generously sent back with an escort by 
Newcastle in his own coach. 

Newcastle, it is said, exasperated by the 
slaughter of the young cavalier, and by the 
obstinate disloyalty of the people, had given 
orders to enter the town, now defenceless, 
and to give no quarter. Whether, however, 
this opinion sprung from the imagination and 
the terrors of the inhabitants, who must have 
been conscious of their own deserts, or whe- 
ther the order were really given, it was cer- 
tainly not put in execution. 

The following is Lister's account of the 
reason for a forbearance little expected ; that 
in the preceeding night, Newcastle, while in 
bed at Bowling- hall, was accosted by an ap- 
parition of a female form, which implored 
him to spare the town, and either affrighted 
or melted him into compliance. If there 
were any foundation for the story, either a 
strong impression may have been made upon 
his mind by a dream, or a real female, ad- 
venturous and patriotic, may have assumed 
the voice and disguise of a ghost, in order to 
work the more powerfully on the feelings. of 
an exasperated conqueror. 

At all events, the lives of all the unarmed 
inhabitants were spared, and the place be- 
came a garrison for the king. (7) 



NOTES. 



(1) 



The Rev. Thomas Dunham Whitaker, 
L.L.D., F.R.S., F.S.A., an exemplary divine 
and able topographer, was born June 8th, 
1759, in the parsonage-house of Rainham, 
Norfolk. His early education he received 
under the care of the Rev. John Shaw (1776), 
of Rochdale, and the Rev. William Sheep- 
shanks, at Grassington. In November, 
1774, he was admitted of St. John's College, 
Cambridge. In 1780, he took the degree of 
L.L.B. ; but in June, 1782, his father having 
died suddenly, he retired to his paternal 
estate, which he continued to improve for 
more than thirty years. In 1785 he was 

27 



NOTES.— DOOMSDAY BOOK. 



ordained deacon, and in the following year 
he received the order of priesthood. Id 1801 
he completed the degree of L.L.D., and in 
J809 he was presented by the of Archbishop 
of Canterbury to the Vicarage of Whalley. 
In 1818 he whs presented with the valuable 
living of Blackburn. He married Lucy, the 
daughter of Thomas Thoresby, of Leeds, by 
whom he had four sons and two daughters. 
He died at the Vicarage, Blackburn, 1 >ecem- 
ber 18th, 1821, in the sixty-third year of his 
age, and was buried at Holme on the 24th, 
in the chapel which he had himself re-built, 
in the year 1788. For further particulars, 
see Knight's Biographical Cyclopaedia; Ni- 
chols Literary Illustrations, volume 4, page 
871 ; and the Annual Biography and Obituary 
for 1823, p. 211. 

The following is a list of his principal 
published works: — A Sermon for the benefit 
of the Leeds General Infirmary, 1796, 8vo. 
A History of the Original Parish of Whalley 
and Manor of Clitheroe, in the Counties of 
Lancaster and York, with plates and maps, 
1801, 4to. ; a third edition, 1813 History 
and Antiquities of the Deanery of Craven, 
in the County of York; London, 1805, 
folio; 1812, Royal 4to. The Life and 
Original Correspondence of Sir George Rat- 
cliffe, Knight, 1810, 4to. The Sermons of 
Dr. Edward Sandy's, formerly Archbishop of 
York ; wi<h a life of the Author, 1812, 4to. 
The Vision of William, concerning " Piers 
Ploughman," etc., 1813, London, 4to. A 
New Edition of Thoresby's Ducatus Leo- 
diensis; " or, the " Topography of Leeds," 
1816, folio. "Loidisand Elmete; " or, An 
Attempt to Illustrate the Districts described 
in those words by Bede, and supposed to 
embrace the lower portions of Airedale and 
Wharfedale, together with the entire vale of 
Calder, folio, 1816. The History of York- 
shire, folio, 1821.— -See Lowndes s Biblio- 
ffrapher"s Manual. 

(2) 
Domz8day Book. — This celebrated Sur- 
Survey, made by order of King William the 
Conqueror, and which was formed in 1086, 
is well known. It was completed by certain 
commissioners called the King's Justiciaries, 
who upon the oaths of the Sheriffs, the Lords 
of each Manor, the Presbyters of e\ery 
Church, the Keeves of every Hundred, the 
Bailiffs, and six Villanes, were to enquire 
into the name of the person who held such 
manor, etc., in the time of King Edward the 
Confessor, who was the present possessor, how 
many hides of land were in the manor, how 
many carucates in demesne, how many homa- 
28 



gees, how many villanes, how many cottarii, 
how many servi, what free men, how many 
tenants in soccage, what quantity of wood, 
how much meadow and pasture, what mills 
and fishponds, how much added or taken 
away, what the gross value in King Edward's 
time, what the present value, and how much 
each freeman or socman had or has. All this 
was to be triply estimated, first, as the estate 
was held in the time of the Confessor, then 
as it was bestowed by the Conqueror, and 
thirdly, as its value stood at the time of the 
Survey. The jurors were also required to 
state whether any advance could be made in 
the value. 

This valuable record throws considerable 
light upon the extent of the ancient Saxon 
parishes, as, in many instances, the returns 
notice the fact of there being a church ; but 
there is reason to suppose that churches un- 
endowed with any glebe lands are frequently 
unnoticed, and tithes are seldom named. 

The late Rev. W. Bawden rendered an 
important service to a itiquarian literature, 
by translating that part of Domesday Book 
which relates to Yorkshire, a service which 
can only be appreciated by those who have 
undergone the labour of perusing the barbar- 
ous Lntin and uncouth abbreviations of the 
original record. - 

A most valuable dissertation upon Domes- 
day Book, has been published by Sir Henry 
Ellis, accompanied by indices of the tenants- 
in-chief and under-tenants, as well as the 
holders of lands mentioned in the record 
anterior to the formation of the Survey. Sir 
Henry Ellis remarks, that Domesday Book 
is a mine of information which has not ^et 
been sufficiently wrought. Illustrations of 
the most important and certain kind upon 
our ancient institutions, services, and tenures 
of land, are still to be drawn from it, and its 
metal cannot be exhausted by the persever- 
ance of any single labourer. — Lawton's 
Collkctio Rkrum Ecclksiasticarum. « 
(3) 
John Hopkinson, Esq., of Lofthouse, 
Clerk of the Peace for the West Riding, was 
a collector in the reign of Charles 2nd; his 
pedigrees of West Riding Gentry have a 
high reputation ever since the time of 
Thoresby, who made great use of them in 
his Ducatus. The original volume, with the 
continuation by Thornton, the Recorder of 
Leeds, were during her life, in the possession 
of the late Miss Currer, 

Hopkinson's pedigrees come down to about 
1680. Thornton continued only those of the 
families in his own neighborhood. A tran- 



NOTES.— JOHN HOPKINSON: RALPH THORESBY. 



script of these MS.S., is in the Leeds Library. 
The followed protections afforded to George 
and John Hopkinson by the two rival gene- 
rals, Fairfax and Newcastle, from the 
plunder and devastation of civil war, show, 
how little offence the family had given to 
either party. The name of John Hopkinson 
is added by Fairfax, himself an antiquary 
and patrons of antiquaries. The address, 
44 To all colonels, captains, commanders," &c, 
naturally reminds one of Milton's poetical 
supplication for protection which his political 
conduct did not merit — 
" Captain, or colonel, or knight in arms, 
Whose chance on these defenceless doors 
may fall/' &c. 

PROTECTION. 

«* Willm Marquesse of Newcastle, governor 
of the toune and county of Newcastle, and 
general of his majesty's forces raised in the 
northern e parts of this kingdome, and also 
in the several counties of Nottingham, Lin- 
colne, Rutland, Derbje, Stafford, Leicester, 
Warwick, Northampton, Huntingdon, Cam- 
bridge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Hartford, 
for the defence of England. 

" Forasmuch as it is his majesties pleasure 
and special command that no person or per- 
sons whatsoever, their houses or goods, be 
plundered or spoyled, in regard there is to be 
an assessment rated and assessed upon the 
country for the maintaining of the army 
under my command and forasmuch as George 
Hopkinson, of Lofthouse, in the county of 
York, Gent, is now under the protection of 
his majestie and the said army, therefore I 
hereby require and command you and every 
of you to whom these presents are directed, 
that you forbeare and wholly desist from 
molesting, plundering, and pillaging, or any 
way injuring the said Geo Hopkinson, his 
servants, and family, in his or their houses, 
lands, or goods, or to demand, levy, or 

any sum or sums of money whatsoever 
upon them or any of them, saving such assesses 
or contributions as shall be equally assessed 
and rated upon them for the maintenance of 
and support to the said army, when said sum 
or .sums of money are given in charge to be 
demanded, collected and gathered by the 
present constables, and other officers espe- 
cially employed therein. And of this you 
are not to fail as you tender his majesties 
service, and will answer the contrary at your 
utmost peril. Given under my hand and seal 
this 1st of October 1643 

• "W. NEWCASTLE. 
" To all colonels, captains, commanders, 



and other officers and soldiers whatsover 
now in the service of his majestie 
under my commande." 

" Ferdiande, Lord Fairfax, lord general of 
the north. To all colonels, captains, and 
commanders, and other officers of horse and 
foot, and to all soldiers in service of ye King 
and parliament. 

" These are to signifie and make known to 
you that the parliament has given especial 
order that no houses be plundered or pillaged 
to whomsoever they belong, and that the 
rather because the delinquents 
are to be answerable to the great damage of 
the commonwealth. I do therefore require 
you and every of you to take especial care 
that Geo. Hopkinson, of Lofthouse, Gent, 
and John Hopkinson, his son, be not plun- 
dered, pillaged, or in any way injured in any 
of their goods by those in the service of king 
and parliamt provided that the parties pro- 
tected shall hereafter yield obedience unto 
and observe all orders, ordinances, and di- 
rections sent from the high court of parliamt 
to be in this country by any com- 

missioners, sequestators, or other persons 
authorized in that behalf, and that this pro- 
tection be no longer in use than that any new 
shall come against the parties protected, 
or that I shall give further orders therein. 
Given under my hand and seal this 20 of 
July, 1644. 

u Fer. Fairfax." 
(4) 

Ralph Thoresby, Esq., F.R.S., was an 
eminent antiquarian and topographer, and 
was born at the house of his father, John 
Thoresby. in Kirkgate, Leeds, August 16th, 
1658. He received the first rudiments of 
learning in the school, formerly the chantry, 
near the bridge at Leeds. Thoresby died 
October 16th, 1725, and was interred with 
his ancestors in the choir of the Leeds Parish 
Church, where, one hundred years later, there 
was placed a memorial stone to his memory, 
bearing an appropriate inscription. 

An interesting memoir of this author and 
numismatist, may be found in the " Biogra- 
phia Leodiensis, edited by the Rev. R. V. 
Taylor, B.A., Curate of St. Barnabas, Hol- 
beck. See also Whitaker^s Thoresby, and 
the British Biography, volume viii. 

The following is a list of the writings of 
Ralph Thoresby, the Antiquary: — Ducatus 
Leodiensis ; or, Topography of Leeds, large 
paper, folio, 1715. — Vicaria Leodiensis; or, 
History of the Church of Leeds, 12mo., 
1724. — Ducatus Leodiensis, edited with ad- 
ditions, by Dr. Whitaker, folio, Leeds, 1816. 

29 



NOTES.— ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



—Diary, from 1677 to 1724, edited by the 
Rev. J. Hunter, 2 vols , 8vo., 1830.— Let- 
ters of Eminent Men addressed to Ralph 
Thoresby, F.R.S., 2 vols., 8vo., 1832. The 
copy of the Ducatus in the Leeds Library, 
presented by Mr. Charles Barnard, has nu- 
merous MS. by Mr. Thomas Wilson, F.S.A., 
and Mr. Lucas. 

(5) 

The valuable MS.S. of Archbishop 
Sharp, are deposited in the archipiscopal 
library at Bishopsthorpe, near York. They 
are comprised in four folio volumes, each 
containing an account of the parishes within 
one of the four of the archdeaconries into 
which the Diocese of York was in his time 
divided, and are in the handwriting of the 
venerable prelate himself. 1 he parishes are 
treated in Deaneries, which are subdivided 
according to their locality. 

The foundation of the work is evidently 
upon that of Mr. Torre, and the catalogues 
of the incumbents and patrons are continua- 
tions from, his lists. Many memoranda and 
continuations of catalogues have, from time 
to time been inserted, since the volumes were 
originally compiled. — Lawton's Collectio 
Rerum. 

Torre's Manuscripts, in the Cathedral Li- 
brary of York, were given to the library by 
the executors of Archbishop Sharp. They 
are very valuable. Torre died 1699. 

A Life of Archbishop Sharp, by his son, 
Dr. Sharp, and edited by the Rev. Thomas 
Newcome,has been published in two volumes, 
1825, 8vo. Mr. John James has also given 
a very interesting sketch of Archbishop 
Sharp, in his History of Bradford. The 
sermons, or discourses of this venerable pre- 
late are held in high estimation. Lowndes, 
in his "Bibliographers Manual" gives the 
following list. " Williams, 1610, 7 vols., 
1735-8, morocco, £i 14s. 6d. -1749. 8vo , 
7 vols. Home Tooke, 640, £\ Is. Bishop 
of Ely, 860, £\ 16s.— 1754, 8vo. f 7 vols., 
Drury3882,^l Is. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 
1829,8vo.,5vol.,£l 16s., reduced, £1 2s. 6d. 

The A rch bishop's son, Archdeacon Thomas 
Sharp, was an excellent Hebrew scholar, and 
a most determined antagonist of Hutchinson- 
ianism. He wrote a work entitled — "The 
Rubric in the Common Prayer and the 
Canons of the Church of England, so far as 
they relate to the Parochial Clergy, considered 
in a course of Visitation Charges, London, 
1787, 8vo. New edition, to which are added 
three Discourses on Preaching, Oxford, 1834, 
Bvo. 6s.— London, J. H. Parker, 1853, 5s. 
30 



(6) 

There may have been no Roman Sta- 
tion in what now forms the Parish of 
Bradford, but it lay between two, namely — 
Olicana (Ilkley),and Cambodunum, or Slack, 
Dear Halifax. Roman roads to these places 
crossed the Parish of Bradford, and traces of 
them were visible within the recollection of 
many now living. Iron works were also 
carried on by the Romans at Bierley, near 
Bradford. The late Rev. Joshua Fawcett, 
of Low Moor, found at the distance of two 
or three fields from Bierley Hall, a large 
mound of refuse of iron smelting, thrown up, 
composed of slag, charred wood, and broken 
earthen crucibles. This was the Roman 
mode of working in iron. 

During the years 1865 and 1866, some 
excavations were carried on at Slack, the 
before mentioned site of Cambodunum, of 
which a very interesting account has been 
given in a London periodical, the Intellectual 
Observer. 1 take the liberty of transcribing 
this, believing that it will be found accepta- 
ble to the readers of these Collectanea. 
"Cambodunum." 

"Cambodunum (there is no clear evi- 
dence that it is the same place which 
Bede calls Campodunum) appears to have 
been a town of importance under the Ro- 
mans, and in the Itinerary of Antoninus 
it stands as the only place of consequence on 
the great road between Calcaria ( Tadcaster) 
and Mamucium (apparently a mere error for 
Mancunium) or Manchester. Richard of 
Cirencester (a writer of at least dubious au- 
thenticity), in his Itinera, or, as it is called 
rather affectedly, Diaphragmata, appears to 
have made up this iter from Antoninus, and 
gives Cambodunum the same position ; and 
in the previous part of his book he informs 
us it was one of the towns in Britain which 
enjoyed the Latian law, that is, that it was 
a town next in rank to a colonia. Though 
Ave have a difficulty in regarding the book 
which bears the name of Richard of Ciren- 
cester as anything else but a modern compil- 
ation, yet the compiler may have had some 
old fragments to work upon, and the rank he 
gives to the town of Campodunum is not at 
all improbable. Considerable difficulty in 
identifying the site of this town has arisen 
from evident errors in the numbers of the 
distances on this iter, as furnished by the 
manuscripts. The ignorant scribes of the 
Middle Ages, and no doubt many of those 
who preceded them, when copying manu- 
scripts like those of the itineraries, consisting 
chiefly of numbers expressed in Roman nu- 



NOTES.— CAMBODUNUM. 



merals, leaving out an a? or a v, or an t, or 
more than one, or interchanging one for the 
ot her, made so many errors, that we can never 
place any trust in them, and our safest evi- 
dence as to the site of a Roman town arises 
from finding traces on its line of road which 
answers to it. Such is the case with Cambo- 
dunum, which antiquaries have agreed gene- 
rally in placing at Slack, in the parish of 
Huddersfield and township of Longwood, in 
Yorkshire, about four miles from ^Halifax. 
All the country round appears to be covered 
with traces of Roman settlements. Among 
the discoveries of this kind recorded, we learn 
that in 1743 the foundations of a Roman 
temple were found at Huddersfield, and, 
among other antiquities on the site, an altar 
dedicated to the goddess Fortuna, by a soldier 
of the sixth legion, named Antonius Modes- 
tus, which of course establishes a relationship 
with Eboracum, or York, which was the head 
quarters of this legion during the whole Ro- 
man period. In 1824, accidental discoveries 
were made at Slack, above mentioned, of 
considerable remains of Roman buildings, 
consisting of hypocausts, and foundations of 
walls. One of the tiles bore the inscription, 
stamped into it, COH-IIII-BRE. Camden 
states that not uncommonly the same inscrip- 
tion was found not uncommonly upon Roman 
bricks at Grimescar, near Huddersfield. It 
was assumed, rather hastily, by inconsiderate 
antiquaries, that it referred to a cohort of 
Britons, or even to a British legion, which is 
quite inadmissible. Mr. Roach Smith, in his 
very valuable and already very rare volume, 
Roman, ~London, page 1 16, has suggested that 
this inscription should be read, Cohors quarta 
Breucorum. The Breuci were a people of 
Pannonia. and we know that there were Pan- 
nonian auxiliaries in Britain ; and then there 
were no doubt many people within the ex- 
tent of the Roman Empire who sent bodies 
of auxiliary troops to Britain, of which we 
have at present no memorial. Since this last 
date there have been many discoveries of 
Roman antiquities over the district we are 
describing. 

If any one of these discoveries represent 
the Roman Cambodunum, it must of course 
be the one which lies upon the line of the 
Roman road, and on this point our informa- 
tion at present seems to be defective. The 
site on which the present excavations are 
being carried on is Slack, and the position is 
one which might have been that of a Roman 
station, or of a Roman villa of importance. 
The present discoveries have resulted from 
the action of a local society, entitled the 



Huddersfield Archaeological Association, 
which, under the directon of the Rev. George 
Lloyd, the incumbent of Thurstonland, has 
employed a number of men to excavate on 
the spot. These researches have brought to 
light a building sixty-eight feet in length, by 
sixty-four in breadth, the outer walls of which 
are of the usual Roman thickness of about 
three feet, a measure which was preserved 
by the mediaeval builders in the walls of their 
houses within towns. Several internal walls 
were traced, inclosing a paved court. In the 
space between the inner paved court and the 
front wall of the building — we are quoting 
the printed description — a gold ring was 
found, described as " very much worn." In 
what appears to have been the central inner 
chamber, a silver coin of the Emperor Ves- 
pasian was turned up, and next day a coin of 
Nerva, both stated to be in a good state of 
preservation. Heaps of Roman pottery and 
bricks and tiles were collected, and among 
the latter some with the already well-known 
inscription, COH-IIII-BRE, or the fourth 
cohort of the Breuci, which seems to show 
that there was here, or in the neighbourhood, 
a military garrison, or, at least, a villa de- 
pendent upon one, and perhaps inhabited by 
its chief officer. Hypocausts were also found, 
and in them, among other relics, a fibula, a 
stone axe, and human bones. Here we have, 
of course, a stone implement belonging to 
the Roman period. In a corner of one of 
the hypocausts was found a large mass of 
metal, enveloped in wood, which at first was 
supposed to be silver, but, on examination, it 
proved to be the rich ore of lead known by 
the name of galena. It is stated that this 
mass weighs about 230 pounds. It would 
show some relationship to lead-mines or lead- 
works. By the side of it were found the 
remains of a human skeleton, and not far 
from it were those of a child. Whether 
these remains mark the site of the Roman 
Cambodunum, or merely those of a villa in 
its neighbourhood, they show that it was a 
military station of some importance, and 
that there were connected with it mining 
operations." 

In the first number, of the New Series of 
the Gentleman's Magazine for January, 
1866, the learned author of li Illustrations of 
Roman London," C. Roach Smith, F.S.A., 
makes the following remarks on the same 
subject: 

" Slack, Yorkshire. — It appears that 
excavations are being made, by a local So- 
ciety, at Slack, the supposed site of the 
Cambodunum of the Itinerary of Antoninus. 

31 



NOTES.— THE EARL OP NEWCASTLE'S VISION. 



A building of Considerable extent has been 
laid open, the rooms of which were heated by 
means of a hypocaust. The tiles discovered 
are not unfre(|uently stamped with the name 
of a cohort of soldiers asserted to have been 
Britons. The inscriptions read coh. iiii 
bre. There are reasons against this inter- 
pretation of the bre. Inscriptions recording 
the Britons or Brittones have been met with 
in the north of England ; and many examples 
of tile stamps evidently indicating the same 
people, have been discovered in London In 
all of these, the letters bri, and not bre, 
occur. 'I he latter seems peculiar to Slack, 
unless it be authenticated that such are also 
found at Eland, in Yorkshire. I have long 
since suggested that these tiles, instead of re- 
ferring to the Britons, denote that the fourth 
cohort of the Breuci was stationed at the 
locality now known as Slack. It is true no 
lapidary inscriptions have been recorded as 
found in England confirming this reading; 
but the Breuci, a people of Pannonia, con- 
tributed several cohorts to the Roman auxi- 
liary forces (as many, indeed, as eight)-, and 
of these, three at least were, for some length 
of time, in Germany, on the Rhine; so it is 
probable that the fourth passed over into 
Britain. The Roman legions and cohorts, 
when permanently stationed, usually stamped 
the tiles they manufactured for building with 
their respective names ; and thus the^e hum- 
ble records are often of great use in aiding 
towards a knowledge of the disposition of the 
military forces; and by them their move- 
ments can frequently be traced. Gale places 
Cambodunum at Almondbury; Horsland, 
near Gretland and Stainland. In the Itin- 
erary of Antoninus, it stands about midway 
between Calcaria (Tad caster), and Man- 
cunium (Manchester); so that it is to be 
hoped the present exploratione may serve to 
decide the question as to the correct location. 
It must be borne in mind that Camden states 
similar tiles (coh. iiii bre) to have been 
found at Grimscar, near Eland Bridge." 
(7) 

This curious story in the history of 
our good old town, has furnished the subject 
for a poem by a Leeds poet, named James 
"WardeH. It was published in 1855, in a 
little book entitled—" Native Productions; 
or a Glanck at the Leeds Poets. By John 
Clarke. Leeds; printed for the Author by 
Cooke and Clarke, (pp 84.) 

the earl of Newcastle's vision. 

The shades of night began to fall 
32 



Enveloping with sable pall 

The precincts of old Bowling Hall, 

Where proud Newcastle lay. 

His anyry eye and brow of gloom, 
Told plainly of poor Bradford's doom, 
As he pass'd to his lonely room, 

To wait the coming day. 

A day that should to sword and fire 
Give that fair town ; both son and sire, 
He vow'4 should midst the flames expire 
For arming 'gainst their king. 

His plumed helm a table graced, 

His trusty sword was near him placed, 

The cuirass that his bosom braced 

Upon the floor was flung. 

Then on the couch he threw him down, 
His thoughts were on that doomed town, 
And on his dearly bought renown, 

When Fairfax lost the day. 
A day that saw midst seas of gore, 
The Royal Standard proudly soar, 
Triumphant on Adwalton Moor, 

That long contested field. 

The night was still, serene, and clear, 
He dreams, or surely does he hear, — 
When a soft voice, low whispering near, 
Said " Pity poor Bradford. " 

Upstarting with a sudden bound, 
He cast a sudden glance around, 
And with astonishment he found 

A female near him stand. 

Mournful she seem'd, tho' young and fair, 
She clasp'd her hands as if in prayer, 
And signing said " In pity spare 

Our poor, devoted town." 

Newcastle was as brave a knight 
As e'er spurred charger into fight ; 
But who can say that solemn night 

He was devoid of fear ? 
The ranks of war he oft had led — 
Had seen the field with slaughter spread. 
Yet never felt he so much dread, 

As at that lonely hour. 
To call for aid he vainly tries, 
His tongue its wonted use denies, 
And when again he rais'd his eyes, 

The visitant had fled. 

And whither fled, no one could say, 
The guards had watch'd till dawn of day, 
But no one ever crossed their way. 

Tiny all and each declared. 

But changed was Newcastle's vow, 
The gloom had vanish'd from his brow, 
He spoke in mercy's accents now, 

" Let Bradford town be spar'd!" 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



BRADFORD IN ''THE OLDEN 
TIME." 

By the Rev. Joshua Fawcett, M.A. 



Contents. — Origin of the Name of 
Bradford — Antiquity — Roman Roads — 
Bradford during the Roman occupation of 
Britain — The Working of Iron — Bradford 
in the Domesday Book — The Lacies — Gal- 
low Close— The Manor Court— The Piece 
Hall— Soke Corn Mill— Bradford Castle— 
Boldshay — Singular Land Tenure — First 
Siege of Bradford — Dead Lane — The Wool- 
len and Worsted Trade — First Mill in 
Bradford — Peculiar Localities— Old Market 
Place— The Prison— " Holy Wells"— Hel- 
lywell, and Lady's Well — Pins cast into 
Wells — Tumbril or Ducking Stool — Brad- 
ford Castle — Goodman's End — Piper's Grave 
— Skinner Lane — Ivegate — Silsbridge Lane 
— Barker End — Black Abbey — White Ab- 
bey— Burnet Fields— The Hall Ings— Toll- 
booth — The Old Cockpit — Tyrrel — St. 
Sitha's Chapel — The Pack Horse Inn — Back 
Lane — First Bank — Bradford Copper Tokens 
— Rise of Wesleyanism — Sun Bridge — The 
Parish Church— Travelling— The Bradford 
Canal — Railway Project — Turnpike Roads 
— The Bradford Gas Light Company — The 
Grammar School— The Paper Hall— The 
Manor House in Kirkgate — Earliest Post 
Office — Earliest Workhouse in Bradford. 

Origin of the Name of Bradford. — 
The origin of the name Bradford has given 
rise to much curious and interesting specu- 
lation. There can be no question that the 
last syllable in the name, ford, refers to the 
brook which runs through the town, b< gin- 
ning amongst the moorlands above Thornton, 
and following the course of the valley, and 
emptyiug itself into the river Aire at Ship- 

Holroyd's Collectanea, No. 3. 



ley. But it is not so easy to decide the 
meaning of the former sjdlable, " Broad. ^ 
If it refers to the breadth of the brook, it 
would lead us to the opinion that the brook 
has in former days been much more consider- 
able than at present, which, however, is far 
from unlikely, inasmuch as its bed has been 
narrowed by the erection of houses and other 
buildings on its margin, and the waters have 
been diminished by reason of the sinking of 
coal pits in the district, which have tended 
to lessen and drain off the springs there- 
abouts. 

Dr. Whitaker has suggested that " Brad" 
may be derived from " brae, " a hill ; and 
thus Bradford mean the ford at the foot of 
the brae or Church Hill. Domesday book 
is evidence against this: for in that book, 
written a.d. 1085, the name is always spelt 
Bradeford, or Bradford. There is an ex- 
ception to this spelling, viz., in a charter for 
a fair granted to Edmund de Lacy, about 
a.d. 1250, in which the name is spelt " Braf- 
ford." Some old inhabitants call it Braf- 
forth, or Bradforth, but this is a mere cor- 
ruption of no very old date. The earliest 
use of this corruption is in Saxton's map, 
published in 1577- Mr. James, in a note to 
his "History of Bradford," says, "I have 
received some observations on the subject 
from an eminent antiquarian etymologist. 
He derives ' Brad from some one of the fol- 
lowing terms: — Gaelic, Braid, Braidh, or 
Brath, all having reference to a hill or ac- 
clivity. The Islandic Brad, Swedish Brail, 
and several other similar words found in the 
northern languages, denote acclivities. If 
the former part of the name of our town 
came from any of these, or from the same 
root, then we may assign to ' Bradford " the 
probable signification of the Hill Ford, or 
Ford at the bottom of the hill; and in this 
case the name of the place would most likely 
be given before the settlement of the Saxons 
here. " I leave my hearers to accept this de- 
rivation or not; it is as probable a one as 
has been offered, and accords with the lo- 
cality of ancient ford. It also agrees in the 
sense, with the derivation of Bracford hinted 
at by Dr. Whitaker, and removes the objec- 
tion to it as to the spelling and pronunciation. 

Anttquity. — It is very probable that 
Bradford stands upon the site of an old Brig- 
antian town, and that the Brigantes were 
the aboriginal inhabitants of the parish. 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



The tribe called the Briganteswas the largest 
and m.st powerful of the ancient British or 
Celtic tribes. Of these tribes there were 
nineteen. The Bngantes included three 
smaller bodies. The Voluntii, inhabiting 
Cumberland and Westmoreland; the Sis- 
tantii, inhabiting Lancaster, Durham, West 
Biding of the county of York; and the 
Parisii, inhabiting the East and North 
Ridings. 

Mr. James, in his ' History of Bradford " 
and the parish, says, ' the whole tract of 
country about here possesses very few Bri- 
tish, Roman, or Saxon remains; and its his- 
tory, in consequence, is remarkably barren 
during this period. In this parish there are 
no unequivocal vestiges of Druidism ; no 
coins, or British earthworks of any moment. 
There seems never to have been a Roman 
station in the parish. Few coins or other 
tokens of the Roman sojourn here have been 
found. I know of no British remains in the 
parish that are not equivocal, unless a snail 
earihwork lying to the westward of Culling- 
worth may be considered of that class. It 
is situated on a gentle slope about 200 yards . 
from a place called Flappit Springs, on the 
left hand side of the road leading thence to 
Halifax. The form has been circular. The 
greater part of it to the south has been de- 
stroyed by the plough. I estimate the dia- 
meter to have been about 50 yards. The 
ditch to the westward is very perfect. It is 
about two yards deep, and three wide; with 
the earth thrown up in the form of a ram- 
part on the inner side. The remain is less 
perfect to theeastward. " 

But though we have had apparently no 
Roman station in the parish, it is more than 
probable that we have had a Roman road 
running through it, viz. the Roman road 
running from the Roman Mancunium, Man- 
chester, to the Roman Olicana, Ilkley. This 
road, Br. Whitakersaya, ran over Blackstone 
Edge, left Halifax to the right, passing Den- 
bolme, and leaving Cullingworth to the west. 
Dr. Whitaker says, that betwixt Culling- 
worth and Hainsworth the road was in his 
time visible and paved with neatly-set stones 
of the country, more than 12 feet broad. It 
was found in several places upon Harden 
Moor, also above '1 hornton.and on Rumbles 
Moor, and thence it pointed directly to Ilk- 
ley. This road was laid down upon the Ro- 
man map in Drake's Eboracum, as " a Leva 
ad Valium. " 

1 would here, by the way. point out the 
generally supposed mmnomer " Rumbles 
Moor. " It is • Romatd S Moor, " 

3-1 



There seems to have been a Roman road 
from Wakefield to Bradford by Gildersome 
Street and Dudley Hill. The word street, 
which applies to the road between Dudley 
Hill and Gildersome, is supposed to have 
been derived from stratum, a word denoting 
a Roman way. It is thought to have been 
part of the road from Legeolium (Castleford) 
to Colunio (or Colne). Whilst upon this 
subject, it will not be out of place to mention 
a few facts in connection with the formation 
of the ancient Roman roads. These roads 
seem to have been mainly of the four fol- 
lowing kinds. 

1. The first kind, daring conquest, was 
the " via militaris. " This was elevated three 
feet and upwards above the surface of the 
ground. It was paved, its direction generally 
a stiaight line, hence such roads were called 
via strata, whence our word street. From 
their elevation, they were called highways. ' 
The average width was 21 feet. 

2. The second kind was the " via publico, " 
or public road. This was not paved, nor 
elevated above the surface of the ground. It 
was covered with "glarece," or gravel, and 
about 14 fe< t wide. 

3. The private roads, called vise privatae, 
or viae vicinales, were narrow, not more than 
seven feet wide, with wider spaces here and 
there, for carriages, &c, to meet and pass. 

4. In addition to these, there were cross 
roads, called "diverticula." 

The Romans had " way-books," called 
"Itineraries," which continue to this day. 
Thus there was the itinerary of Antonius. 
Also, there was the itinerary of Richard, a 
monk of Cirencester, &c. 

Of all the magnificent works of the Ro- 
mans, the formation and extent of their 
public roads, and the means adopted to main- 
tain them, appear to be the most astonishing. 
To give an idea of their extent, I may men- 
tion that they formed a road from Solway 
Frith to Jerusalem, a distance of 3,740 
English miles. 

The first Roman road constructed was 
called "the Appian May. 1 ' it was con- 
structed iu 441, a.u., by Appius Claudius. 
Along this road the Apostle Paul was con- 
ducted a prisoner to Rome, after he had ap- 
pealed to Csesar. 

The second was undertaken about 100 
years after. Suetonius infoi ms us that young 
men were stationed along them, to convey to 
the Emperor in the most speedy manner no- 
tice of whatever might be going on in the 
empire Tbey were as straight as possible; 
often paved with regular blocks of stones, or 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



flints and cobbles; in some instances covered 
with layers of gravel, the substratum being 
carefully constructed, and in a substantial 
manner. 

In the construction and repair of them, 
four classes of persons were employed. 

1. Legionary soldiers. 2. People of tbe 
provinces through which they passed. 3. 
Professed artisans of various descriptions, 
according to the nature of the labour re- 
quired. 4. Criminals. 

Posts were established at intervals, and 
runners or couriers were despatched with 
messages from post to post. Houses were 
erected generally at the distance of six Ro- 
man miles, and every house was provided 
with forty horses. 

The four principal Roman roads in Britain 
we re — 1. The hailing Street, across the 
country from Dover to Cardigan, Anglesea, 
or Chester (authors are not agreed on this 
point, but this latter appears the most pro- 
bable): passing through London, St. Alban's, 
Dunstable, Towcester, Atherstone, Wall, 
and Uttoxeter. Its etymology is uncertain, 
but it is thought to be derived from Vitel- 
liamus, corrupted into Vilellian, or Watling 
Street. 

2. The Foss hay (from fosse a ditch) ex- 
tended from Totness, in Devonshire, through 
Cirencester and Lincoln to North Britain. 

3. The lkenild Street (from the Iceni) 
ran from Southampton, through York to 
Newcastle, &c 

4. The Ermin Street (from Hermann, a 
Saxon warrior, signifying that it was a mili- 
tary road), extended from St. David's to 
Southampton. 

It is curious to observe that these four 
Roman roads were mainly in the direction 
of our present Trunk Railways, as any one 
may perceive who will compare an ancient 
map with one of Bradshaw's. 

The Roman road connected with this 
county deserves to be noticed. The princi- 
ple stations and read connected with the 
City of York was made by Agricola circa, 
a.d. 80. If you take York as a centre, pro- 
ceeding northwards, the first station was 
Isurium, tbe present Aldborough ; from Isu- 
rium they went to Cataractoniura, Catterick 
Bridge ; the last station in that direction was 
Lavatrse, the modern Bowes. Returning to 
York, and then proceeding south, the first 
station was Calcaria. Tadcaster, then La- 
gecio, Castleford, then Danum, Doncaster ; 
passing west, the first station was Addleicum, 
Adel, then Olicana, Ilkley. Passing north- 
east, the first station was either Aldby or 



Kexby Bridge, (this is doubtful) then Market 
Weighton, and thence to Pattringtoi and 
Brough. 

There is no positive proof that Bradford 
was upon or near any Roman road, except 
the one near Denholme, to which reference 
has already been made, and the fact of a 
certain district of road being called "the 
street, i.e. the road leading from Dudley hill 
to Adwalton. The word "street " attached 
is presumptive proof in favour of its Roman 
origin; as for instance, Adwick le street, 
near Doncaster, Barton le street, near Mal- 
ton, Chester le street, &c. 

Respecting Bradford, the information we 
have relative to the Roman period, as I said 
before, is very slender. Nevertheless it is 
thought that the Romans both got and 
worked ironstone in this neighbourhood. Dr. 
Richardson, in a letter to Heme, says, ; ' that 
iron was made in this neighbourhood (Bi- 
erley) in the time of the Romans, a late dus- 
covery which sufficiently convinced me. Up- 
on removing a heap of cinders, to repair the 
roads with it, a quantity of copper Roman 
coins were discovered, some of which I have 
in my possession. They were of tbe period 
of Constantine, Diocletian, and the usu per 
Carausius. This country abounds with such 
heaps of cinders, though we have not so 
much as any tradition that ever iron was 
made here. " Within late years, a lew heaps 
of supposed Roman Scoria have been dis- 
covered in a field near Royd's Hall. 

The parish of Bradford was within the 
kingdom of Deira, and afterwards in that of 
Northumbria, one of tbe kingdoms of the 
heptarchy. Deira, originally means a wild 
beast. The district of Deira was so called 
from tbe forests and warrens for which it was 
so remarkable. It included the south part 
of Northumberland, lying between the rivers 
Humber and Tweed. Northumberland, as its 
name imports, was the country north of the 
Humber Pope Gregory seeing some persons 
of the province of Deira put up to be sold as 
slaves in the open market, and admiring their 
beauty, he asked from what country they 
came Being answered Angli, i.e. English- 
men, he said well they may be so called, as 
they were like Angeli, Angels; enquiring of 
what province, he was answered Deira: 
to which he answered De ira Dei sunt deli- 
berandi! i.e., they are to be delivered from 
the wrath of God. Then inquiring the name 
of their king, which was A lie, how fitly, said he, 
may they sing hallelujahs! From that time, 
and owing to that circumstance, he endea- 
voured the conversion of the English nation. 

35 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



But though we have so little information 
respecting that early period, as we proceed 
onwards we come to the light of written re- 
cord, and there find much that is deeply 
interesting. 

Bradford is mentioned in Domesday hook, 
a book of Survey begun in 1080, and which 
took six years in completion; this book is in 
the Chapter house, Westminster. 

At the time of the conquest, one Gamel 
held the manor of Bradford. This Gamel 
seems to have been a person of considerable 
importance, as he possessed a great number 
of manors in this part of the country, ex. gr. 
Elland, Ovenden, Gomersal, Thornhill, and 
Kirkheaton. The whole of the cultivated 
lands in the manor of Bradford at that time 
was 15 carucates, or 1500 acres, on which 8 
ploughs were employed. Ceruca, means a 
plough, and a carucate, though it varied in 
some parts, was usually about 100 acres, or 
as much as could be ploughed in a year. 

The value of the manor was d£4, a consi- 
derable sum in those times. The pound in 
Domesday was a pound weight troy, of silver; 
and its intrinsic value when in money was 
j£3 : — but its extrinsic value was 100 times 
more, or at least than £\ of the present 
day. The annual value in King Edward's 
time, of the manor, was equal to ^400 of 
our money. 

We find no mention of a church here at 
that time; but this by no means proves that 
there was none, as the jurors were not re- 
quired to return the churches. There was 
probably a chapel with right of sepulture, 
but these were not returned in Domesday. 
The mother church was Dewsbury, the old 
Saxon parish of the district, and it is scarcely 
likely that there would be no church for the 
use of the inhabitants so far distant. 

The family of whom we read most about 
this time, was the Laeies, Earls of Ponte- 
fract. Ilbert de Lacy, one of the Norman 
adventurers, at the subjugation ef the king- 
dom had bestowed upon him by the Con- 
querer, in the West-Riding of Yorkshire, 
150 manors. 

I Hurt was the person who formed the 
oiory or honor of Pontefract, a court still 
sting. He was created Baron of Ponte- 
fract, 1070. He built the castle of Ponte- 
fract for Ids residence ; and it is said that it 
took 12 years in building. 

Robert de Lacy, his son, him, 

and when he died, he was succeeded by his 

liber I ; who. dyi 
brothei Henry. Tin.- Henry lefl a snn Ro- 

' with- 



out issue, Feb. 1 193, and was buried at 
Kirkstall Abbey. He divided his immense 
estate to his uterine sister Aubrey, daughter 
of Lisours, who married for her first husband, 
Richard Fitz Eustace, Constable of Chester, 
and Lord of Halton, and carried with her 
the family possessions of the Laeies, and 
Lisours. She had a son called John, who 
died at Tyre in 1190, on the third crusade 
in which he had with his son Roger, accom- 
panied Richard I. He married Alice de 
Vere, sister (widow) of William de Mande- 
ville, Earl of Essex, and left by her several 
children. 

Roger, his son, succeeded him, and took 
the name of Lacy. 

A descendant of this son was Edmund de 
Lacy, 1246. In his time, Bradford was 
charged for tallage to the King, five marks 
and the two Bondi there four shillings. The 
burgh of Leeds was charged three marks 
and a half. Bradford must therefore have • 
increased by this time in population. 

This Edmund de Lacy, obtained several 
important grants, and among others, in 1251, 
a charter for a market at Bradford, and a 
grant of the warren in the manor. This 
market was to be held on a Thursday (the 
same as now) unless it would be to the in- 
jury of the neighbouring markets. We find 
also that in 1294, the Earl of Lincoln ob- 
tained a charter for holding markets and 
fairs at various towns belonging to him, aud 
that Bradford was amongst the number. 
The market was to be on Thursday, and the 
fair, one in every year, on the eve and on 
the day of the blessed Peter ad Vincula, and 
lor three days following. This charter was 
dated June 6, 1294 (22 Edward I). This 
fair was afterwards discontinued. The 
market was holdeu on Sunday, though Thurs- 
day was the chartered day 

We find from history that the Earl of 
Lincoln exercised his right, and erected a 
gallows near Bradford. This right was traced 
from the time of the Saxons, when the 
greater pat t of the Thanes, either by c 
grant, or from prescription, possessed this 
power of executing thieves, found within 
their respective manors. In the laws of 
King Edward the Confessor, express mention 
is made of this right. Many places iu the 
kingdom had right of gallows. The gallows 
was placed at a little distance from Bradford, 
as in the ease of Halifax, Otley, Knares- 
borough, Kirkby Malzeard, &c, where the 
place is lo ibis day called Gal, 
&.C 1 he sit( 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



have been near Bowling. From a mention 
of Ga How- closes in Bradford, mentioned in 
the Early Court Roll of the manor, Mr. 
James thinks that Birks-hall stood upon the 
demesne, called the Gallow close, and he 
says that it is a field near the Bowling 
Foundry, still retaining the name of Gallow 
close. 

The privilege of executing felons was lost 
by desuetude, and not by law or statute, or 
itinerating judges being appointed to take 
circuits, and dispense justice periodically 
through the kingdom. 

The present " Manor Court' can be traced 
to a Free Court, from ancient times, or a 
Sheriffs Turn, made by the Earl's own stew- 
ard, and the debts of the King levied by the 
Farl's own bailiff. This is no doubt "the 
Court Leet," under another name. The word 
" Leet " is derived from a Saxon word which 
means a li'tle court, and a Court Leet is out 
of the Sheriffs turn. The Court Leet was 
held twice a year; many of the duties per- 
formed by magistrates, then devolved upon 
the Leet jury. The following may be taken 
as a specimen of the offences which was 
brought before the court, and the fines ad- 
judged. Heavy fines were imposed upon un- 
ruly tempers, gaming, allowing persons to 
play at cards at night, &c. For an assault 
where no blood was drawn the fine was gene- 
rally 3s. 4d. j where blood was drawn, 10s. 

It is worthy of notice that there have 
been three Courts and Court houses in Brad- 
ford. 

1. There was a court held " at the Castle" 
the site of which was probably the present 
Bermondsey hotel, School street, Cheapside. 

2. The second court was held in a room 
now over Mr. Chatterton's shop, in Ivegate. 
Here the Abbot of Kirkstall sat in the reign 
ot King Henry VIII. 

The third court was held in a room occu- 
pied by the late Mr. John Hill, maltster, on 
the south side of Yfestgate. The door-way 
to it, is still to be seen, over which are the 
letters H. M. I. M., and the date, a.d. 1678. 
The room is up stairs, reached by a flight of 
steps. The royal arms marking the position 
of the judges' seat, still remain. The court 
was removed here when the Marsden's be- 
came possessed of the manor. 

In addition to these, justice has been ad- 
ministered in the Old Piece Hall, in Kirk- 
gate, and now in the Court House, in the 
Hall Ings. 

Before the Piece Hall was built, in 17?3, 
the manufacturers from the out-townships 
(so limited was the business) exhibited their 



pieces in a large room of the White Lion 
Inn, and they had each closets which they 
locked up from market to market. A gentle- 
man, upon whom sound reliance may be 
place 1, says, that it was estimated that only 
about 3000 pieces per week were sold in 
Bradford ; whilst now more than one firm 
would do that. 

The Soke Corn Mill, now known as the 
u Queen's Soke Mill, ° is first mentioned in 
a registration of all the lands and other ter- 
ritorial possessions of the Earl of Lincoln, 
taken at Pontefract, March 3, 1311. The 
profits amounting from it were equal to one 
quarter of the rents arising from Bradford 
and places around from which rent was drawn 
by the lord. The word '"Soke ''is derived 
from the Saxon soca, which means "the ter- 
ritory in which the chief lord exercised his 
liberty of keeping courts within his own 
territory or jurisdiction" (Bailey). The 
word " soc'"' is an old law term, and means a 
power or liberty of jurisdiction. 

It is believed that there were corn mills 
in Bowling and Horton at the time of this 
inquisition. 

It is supposed that there was formerly a 
castle at Bradford, i.e., between Doomsday, 
^\.d. 1080, and this Inquisition, a.d. 1311, 
but it may have been destroyed in the reign 
of King Stephen, or Henry II., when a dis- 
pute took place between those monarchs that 
all castles of a certain period should be razed 
to the ground, Mr. James thinks that the 
''Aula" mentioned in the Inquisition must 
have been built out of the ruins of the Castle, 
and that this hall stood in a field to the 
north-west of the parish church, The Hill 
Garth would probably be its site, and this 
was to the north-west of the parish church. 
The land to the south was called the Hall 
Ings. 

From the Inqui ? itinn above referred to 
we find that the market was held on the Sun- 
day, although the charter .stated that it was 
to be held on the Thursday. 

The market place was probably the church- 
yard, a practice not uncommon, as we find 
that a statute was passed in 13th of Edward 
I. forbidding the holding of fairs and markets 
in such places. The toll of this Sunday 
market was £3 a year, a considerable sum 
in those days. The rule for measuring the 
relative value of money, is to multiply the 
former sum by 15. 

The size of Bradford would then be small, 
consisting of little more than a few houses 
from the Church to the top of Kirkgate, with 
a few scattered on the side of Ivegate and 

37 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



Westgate. It must be remembered in the 
time ot King Henry III. it paid more tallage 
to the King than Leeds, and 200 years after- 
wards was equal to Leeds. For upwards of 
130 years afterwards (a.d. 1443) Halifax 
contained only 13 houses. 

It would appear from an "Extent of the 
Manor of Bradford," taken in 1342, that 
" Bolleshagh,'' the modern Bold.shay, was 
among the fust places in Bradford that were 
cultivated. 

In feudal times, the lords of manors often 
granted out lands to be holden by the per- 
formance o'most ridiculous services. One of 
these singular tenure^ existed in the manor of 
Bradford within the last 60 years. The origin 
of it is attributed to John of Gaunt, Duke 
of Lancaster. Cough, in his Britannia, 
gives the following notice of the tenure: — 
" Bradford belonged to John of Gaunt, who 
granted to John Northrop, of Manningham, 
and hi* heirs, three messuages and six novates 
of land, to come to Bradford on the blowing 
of a horn in winter, and to wait upon him 
and his heirs on their way from Blackburn- 
shire, with a lance and hunting dog, for thirty 
days; to have for yeoman's board, one penny 
for himself and a halt-penny for his dog. A 
descendant of this Northrop afterwards 
granted land to Uushworth, of Horton, to 
hold the lance while Northrop's man blew the 
lu-rn The name of Hornman or Horn- 
blowing Land, was imposed upon the lands 
in question, and the custom is still kept up. 
A man comes into the market place with a 
horn, halbert, and a dog, and is there met 
by the owner of the lands in Horton. After 
the proclamation made, the former calls 
aloud, ' Heirs of Rush worth, come hold me 
i iy hound while 1 bio v three blasts with my 
horn, to pay the rent due to our sovereign 
lord ihe King.' He then delivers the string 
to the man from Horton, and winds hib horn 
thrice. The original horn, resembling that 
ofTutbury, in Ftaffordsbire, is still preserved, 
though stripped of its original ornaments. " 
This horn which is now in existence, is pro- 
bably coevol with the origin ot the Bradford 
arms, which, tiiere is every reason to believe, 
took their rise from the above-mentioned 
lingular tenure. The Bradford arms are, 
gules, a chevron, or. between three bugle 
horns, strung sable; crest, a boar's head, 
erased. 

L eland, in his Itinerary in the time of 
Kin« Henry VIII., gives the following curi- 
ous account of the town: — " Kradeforde a 
praty quick market toune. Dimidio aut eo 
amplius, minus Wackefelde. It hath one 
33 



paroche churche, end a chapel of Saint Sitha. 
It standeth much by clothing, and is distant 
VI. miles from Halifax, and four miles from 
Christeal Abbay. " 

Leland, when speaking of Leeds, says, 
" That is as large as Bradeforde, but not so 
quick." 

In the year 1577 (18th year of the reign 
of Elizabeth ), we find the following names, 
those of the greatest men in the parish : — 
" Thomas Taylor, of Bradford ; John Web- 
ster; Thomas Brown; Nicholas Tonge, 
Manningham ; Thomas Swaine, Horton ; 
John Field, &c. 

The history of Bradford during the Civil 
Wars is exceedingly interesting. Probably 
Bradford took a greater part in those com- 
motions than any town of its size in the king- 
dom. The inhabitants were in the interest 
of the Parliament, and against the King, i.e., 
Charles I. Clarendon, in his M History of 
the Civil War," (Vol. II, Part I.), says, 
"Leeds, Halifax, and Bradford, three very 
populous and rich towns, were wholly at 
their disposition. " 

When the rupture between the King and 
Parliament broke out, the King sent troops 
to be quartered here. These troops were 
soon recalled to join the Royal army. The 
inhabitants then began to put their town into 
a state of defence, when a party of soldiers 
stationed at Leeds were ordered to attack 
and take the place. The Royal party 
pitched their tents in UnderclifTe. One of 
their guns, however, bursting, they became 
so intimidated that they fled to Leeds. 

In a few days after, Sir William Saville 
with a large force attacked the town. This 
has been called the " First Siege of Brad- 
ford. " It has been said that the Royalists 
directed their shot at the steeple of the 
Parish Church, and that in order to render it 
secure, the inhabitants hung it round with 
woolpacks. A severe fight took place, which 
lasted eight hours. Fairfax, in his Memoirs, 
says, " The first action uas at Bradford. " 
In the end the Royalists entered the town 
and pillaged it. It has been said that eo 
manj' persons were buried in or near the 
present Vicar Lane, that it obtained the un- 
enviable designation of "Dead Lane," so 
called even now. 

Many traces of these unhappy conflicts 
have been found in Bradford and the neigh- 
bourhood. As. for instance, in the neigh- 
bourhood of Whisket Hill and Adwalton, 
and also in Ivegate, Bradford. In March, 
1827, on pulling down the premises adjoining 
the Unicorn Inn, Ivegate, an 81b. shot, sup- 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



posed to have been fired from the cannon of 
the Earl of Newcastle, in this siege, was 
found; and about 10 years ago, whilst dig- 
ging up the road in the Canal Bank, an 181b. 
shot was found. 

Feeling assured that you will be interested 
to know something of the rise and progress 
of the staple trade of Bradford and its im- 
mediate neighbourhood, I shall proceed at 
once to give a brief historical sketch of it, 
so far as I have been able to collect ma- 
terials upon the subject. 

We have already seen that there is strong 
reason to believe the getting and woiking of 
iron in this neighbourhood was practised by 
the Romans. We are not able to trace back 
so far the trade in wool, whether the woollen 
or the worsted trade, nevertheless, we can, 
from a very early period of English history, 
trace the working of wool in this immediate 
locality. 

The manufacture of woollen cloths was 
practised soon after the Conquest. In the 
time of King Henry II. and Richard I, the 
kingdom greatly flourished in this art; but 
by the troublesome wars in the time of King 
John and Henry III., and also Edward I. 
and II. it was greatly diminished. 

In the Hundred Rolls of 1284, King Ed- 
ward I., there is mention of a man named 
Evans, a weaver of Gomersal, being confined 
in the prison of Bradford. Yea, as early as 
J 287, Edward I. 15Jh year, we find the no- 
tice of Frizinghall, near Bradford, which 
place probably took its name from the coarse 
cloths called freize or frize being manufac- 
tured there in early times. 

It is curious to observe the origin of such 
words as worsted, hank,&c. For instance 
some Flemish manufacturers of wool settled 
at " Worsted." in Norfolk, a small village 
near North Walsham from which came our 
name worsted stuffs. In 1336, two 
Brabant weavers, named " Willielmus 
de Brabant, and Hankeinus de Brabant s 
Textores," settled in York. Hence the 
word hank. Also a man named Thomas 
Blanket, a weaver in Bristol, has given the 
name to that article. 

In 1328, the measure and size of cloth, 
gray and colour, were regulated by law : 
"Whereby it is directed the length and 
breadth of the two sorts of cloth, that the 
King's Aulneger shall measure them ; and 
they shall be forfeited to the King, if they 
be short of the following lengths, viz. : the 
cloths of gray (not coloured) were to be 28 
yards in length, and six-quarters broad; 
Becondly, the coloured cloths were to be 26 



long, and si x-and-a-half-quarters wide." This 
is the first time the Aulneger is mentioned 
in the statute book, and he was 60 called 
from an aulne or ell. The office of Aulneger 
was very ancient. Peronlt le Tayleur, who 
held the office in the time of King Edward 
I., having forfeited it, the King, by writ of 
privy seal, commanded the treasurer to let 
Pierres De Edmonton have it. — Madox. 

After the Civil Wars, the woollen manu- 
factures here died away, and the manufac- 
ture of worsted goods began to flourish. 
For the sale of these last the Old Piece Hall 
was erected, in 1773; it was 144 feet long, 
by 36 feet broad. 

In those days spinning was done by hand, 
as by the spinning wheel. In course of time 
this mode was found quite unequal to the 
demands of the manufacturer. r i his led the 
way to the introduction of the spinning ma- 
chine; the first of which was used by Mr. 
James Garnett, the grandfather of the pre- 
sent Mr. Garnett, and was set up in the 
Paper Hall, Barker-end. The machine was 
called technically, a mules and throstle. 

It is curious to observe, that there were 
two remarkable attempts made at different 
times, and at a long interval between them, 
by the inhabitants of Bradford, to check the 
trade of the town; I mean the manufacture 
of worsted goods here spoken of. 

For instance, in the Court Rolls of 1678, 
we meet with the following singular order, 
made by the Leet Juiy : — " i hat the inhab- 
itants of Bradford shall not let any houses to 
persons to be clothiers, upon pain of 39s. 
lid, every month; nor set to work any fit to 
be servants except datal men. " 

We find also, that in 1793, a i erson named 
Buckley formed the design of erecting a mill 
here, to be wrought by a steam engine. 1'he 
site was to be in the present Manchester 
Road, nearly opposite the Primitive Metho- 
dist Chapel. 

The inhabitants of the neighbourhood 
soon took the alaim, and signed a notice, 
threatening Miv Buckley with an action if 
he should carry out his intention. The pro- 
ject of Mr. Buckley was abandoned. The 
following is a copy of the notice, with the 
names attached : 

" To Mr. John Buckley, Cotton Manufac- 
turer, in Bradford, in the West Riding of 
the County of York. 

" Take notice, that if either you or any 
person in connexion with you shall presume 
to erect or build any steam engine, for the 
manufacture of cotton or wool, in a certain 
field in Horton, near Bradford aforesaid, 

39 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



called or known by the name of the Brick 
Kiln Field, we, whose names are hereunto 
subscribed, shall, if the same be found a 
nuisance, seek such redress as the law will 
give. Witness our hands, this 23rd Janu- 
ary, 1793. 
" Thomas Atkinson, John Hardy, 
Nathaniel Aked, Henry WilliamOates, 
John Smith, Mary Laid man, 

Isaac Wilson, Betty Swaine, 

Thomas Holdgate, Francis Town, 
Jonas Bower, J. Lupton, 

John Rand, John Aked." 

William Whitaker, 
Spite of this threat, Messrs. Ramsbotham, 
Swaine, and Murgatroyd erected a mill in 
the Holme. It is related, that during the 
building of it, a number of persons assembled 
to prevent the conveyance of the stones to 
it ; which, however, was rendered of no avail 
by one of the partners fighting the way there 
with his own fists. In so discout aging 
an attempt did the present state of the 
worked manufacture take its rise. Who 
could have predicted such a result? The 
following facts speak for themselves. The 
first mill in Bradford, 1798, had an engine 
of 15-horse power; in 1819, the horse power 
was about 495; in 1830, 1047; in 1840, 
2000. 

Whilst we have seen a remarkable increase 
in the number of horses' power employed, 
we see a similar increase in the hands em- 
ployed — 

In 1831, horse power 138S 

hands -- 6022 

In 1841, horse power 2058 

„ hands —10410 

"An increase (says Mr. Baker) unequalled, 
perhaps, in the history of any manufacturing 
population in this or any other part of the 
world." 

The population of Bradford has increased 
in a wonderful ratio. I here only include the 
Township of Bradford. Or the Borough. 

In 1801 6393 13264 

1811 7707 16012 

1821 13064 26369 

1831 23223 43527 

1M1 34560 66718 

1851 52501 103786 

I wish it were in toy power to give you 
any definite information relative to the sep- 
tennial festival called Bishop Blaize, but it 
is not. The eailieat celebration I cannot 
discover. The last was in 1825. Blasius 
was Bishop of Sebarte, in Armenia. He was 
reported to have been a man of great mira- 
cles and p iwer, and put to death in the same 
40 



city by Agricolaus, the president, under 
Diocletian the Emperor, in the year 289. 

Peculiar Localities. — In these "Notes 
on Bradford in the Olden Time," I cannot 
omit to mention some of those peculiar lo- 
calities in our old town, to which, from 
various causes, special interest is attached. 
Suppose we take the old Market-place, 
i. e., the locality situate at the junction of 
Westgate, Kirkgate, and Ivegate, we find 
that originally an ancient cross stood there. 
I think this was removed to the Market- 
place in the New Street, about 45 years ago, 
and that the base and lower part of the cross 
still remain at the bottom of the Talbot yard. 
There was a prison under the cross in West- 
gate, since a few years ago, in digging for a 
drain or sewer, steps were found leading down 
to such a place. Near this, and opening into 
Ivegate, there was a dungeon for prisoners, 
the entrance to which is still to be seen. 
The dungeon now forms cellars, two stories 
from the level of the street, under the shops 
occupied by Messrs. Blackburn and Hunter. 
The dungeon is said to have been divided 
into two compartments, one for male, and 
the other for female prisoners; these com- 
partments were little more than three yards 
square. The upper part of the houses rested 
upon pillars, and overhung the street, whilst 
underneath was the standing for dealers in 
butter, &c. It was in one of these dungeons 
that Mr. John Nelson, a Wesleyan minister, 
was once confined for preaching the truth at 
Adwalton, in the house of John Booth. This 
occured on Friday, May 4, 1774. The fol- 
lowing day he was taken before certain com- 
missioners at Halifax who were appointed 
with authority to impress as soldiers all who 
were brought before them, whose lives were 
disorderly, or who had no apparent means of 
obtaining an honest livelihood. One of these 
commissioners for the West Riding was the 
Rev. Mr. Cobley, Vicar of Birstal, who 
eagerly embraced the opportunity thus pre- 
sented to rid himself and the parish of his 
preaching parishioner. 

It is a curious and instructive fact, that 
the man who ottered bail for Nelson to the 
amount of «£10 and himself as prisoner, that 
Nelson might be liberated for the night, was 
one James Eastwood, an innkeeper in Ive- 
gate, Sertreant Gibson, the constable who 
seized Nelson at Adwalton, after having 
repeatedly declared that if his arms rotted 
from his shoulders, he himself would ''press 
Nelson," realized but too soon the conse- 
quences of his daring : paralysis succeeded 
inflammation, and the use of his aims never 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



returned ; whilst, at this day, the house of 
the persecutor is written in the dust 

Market Places. — The market was origin- 
ally held in or near the Churchyard. After- 
wards at the bottom of Westgate. It was 
removed about 45 years ago to a more con- 
venient site in New Street or Market Street, 
and in 1824 to its present site in Darley 
Street. 

Of Holy Wells we have two. 
In Manningham Lane there is a fine well, 
in old deeds called Hellywell, ie. Holywell, 
in a field now called Halliwell Ash, now a 
stone quarry. For instance there is the 
" Lady's Well, " in the Roughs, on the 
west side of Dudley Hill, near Mr. Berry's 
mill. Near the one in Manningham Lane 
is the ancient Pin Stone. The following 
interesting account of the custom of throwing 
pins into wells, &c , is from the pen of a 
valued antiquarian friend : — 

'• In answer to your inquiries about pins 
cast into wells, there is a note in the 2nd vol. 
of ' Brande's Antiquities,' 4to edition, p. 268. 
4 The custom of placing pins or a piece of 
rag is of the same origin as that of placing 
pictures or other matters as ' ex votos ' in Ro- 
man Catholic countries— an offering for 
benefits received. In the case of wells it 
was generally used where the water had 
medicinal qualities, real or supposed, for the 
cure of eyes. Some few weeks ago I saw 
rags on the branches of a tree over a well 
called St. Helen's Well near the ford through 
the Wharfe a little below Thorpe Arch. 
Abroad I have seen ex votos of all imaginable 
variety placed in churches as offerings to the 
saint to whom the church is dedicated, and 
by whose assistance cures for diseases are 
supposed to be obtained. For its origin you 
must refer to Pagan times. It is neither 
more or less than the offering made to the 
deity of a certain place. In early times the 
Christian clergy did not absolutely forbid 
processions to wells or other places, as they 
would have met with direct opposition as a 
great innovation on old ways. So they en- 
grafted them on Christian manners, and 
hence the practice and custom. At Tissing- 
ton, in Derbyshire, there is one day in the 
year whereon it is the custom for the people, 
headed by the clergy, to proceed to the wells, 
and there decorate them with garlands and 
saying prayers. An account is given in the 
Gentleman's Magazine, and the custom is 
still kept up. " 

There was formerly in Bradford Beck, to 
the north-west of the Parish Church, about 
two centuries ago, the Tumbril or Ducking 



Stool. When the Canal was formed, this 
stool was removed, but not far from its old 
post. This has been seen by persons now 
living. 

^In the London Evening Post, April 2/-30, 
1765, appeared the following paragraph:— 
" Last week, a woman that keeps the Queen's 
Head alehouse at Kingston, in Surrey, was 
ordered by the court to be ducked for scold- 
ing, and was accordingly placed in the chair, 
and ducked in the river Thames under King- 
ston Bridge, in the presence of 2,000 or 
3,000 persons." 

In the Museum at Scarborough may be 
seen the ancient ducking-stool belonging to 
that town, which was formerly placed on the 
old pier. 

Bradford Castle was thought by some 
to have stood not far from the north-west of 
the church ; but more probably on or near 
the site of the present Bermondsey Hotel, 
School Street, Cheapside. 

_ It will not be uninteresting to give the 
historical origin of the names of certain lo- 
calities in and near Bradford. 

For instance, " Goodman's End may have 
been derived," says Mr. James, "from hav- 
ing been the residence of the ancient vicars 
standing there." The Vicar's residence was 
near the Messrs. Walker's mill. 

"Piper's Grave," according to tradition, 
is the place where a piper was buried who 
had committed felo-de-se. This is very 
apocryphal. 

" Skinner Lane" explains itself. 
" Ivegate " means a steep gate. There 
are many names compounded of the word 
Ive and another syllable, ex. gr. Ivelet 
Ivegill, &c. 

"Silsbridge Lane," i.e. Low Bridge 

Lane, in former days the old road to Halifax. 

"Barker End " was so called from there 

haying been a Tanhouse there. Tanners 

being anciently called Barkers. 

" Black Abbey, " reason of the name un- 
known. 

" White Abbey, " ditto. 
" Burnet Fields, " in Horton, supposed 
to have belonged to Kirkstall Abbey, and 
the property to have been burnt down. 

The u Hall Ings " were in ancient times 
the first and only meadow land in the town. 
The ancient Tollbooth stood at the junc- 
tion of Ivegate, Westgate, and Kirkgate. 
The entrance from Ivegate still remains. 
The cell under it yet remains, and it is so 
deep that there is a cellar over it. 

The old Cockpit was to the rear of the shop 
now occupied by Messrs. Morrell and Isitt. 

41 



BRADFORD IX THE OLDEN TIME. 



The name Tyrrei., which gives the name 
to a street, was anciently " Turles " — a word 
perhaps derived from the Danish Thur, sig- 
nifying a brook or rivulet; and the Ley*, the 
Saxon for fields. The Turles or Tyrrels 
seem to have been formerly a noted place 
for the diversions of the inhabitants, by the 
oldest of whom a cockpit and bowling-green 
are remembered to have been there. Imme- 
diately on the south side of the Sun Bridge 
(about 200 years ago called " Ivebridge"), 
stood about 40 years ago the Town's Prison. 
"We find in the records of the county in the 
reign of Queen Elizabeth an order of the 
justices to repair the Sunbridge, which had 
been greatly damaged by a flood. 

The premises immediately adjoining the 
Beehive Inn, in Westgate, were probably the 
site of St. Sitha's Chapel, or the Chapel of 
St. Osyth. There is an old doorway in the 
open passage near the inn which is supposed 
to have been a part of the building; but 
there is no proof of this. 

The Pack Horse Inn, in Westgate, leads 
us back to former days, and contains some- 
thing to interest the antiquarian. The front- 
age to the street is modern ; but there is a 
curious and in some respects beautiful 
old door and doorway leading from the 
lane on the south of it into the court 
yard. This yard has been evidently built 
on the principle of most of the ancient 
hostels, viz , with open gallery supported by 
columns, which gallery led to the different 
upstairs apartments. The pillars supporting 
the gallery still remain, as also an old door 
into a room on the ground floor. This inn 
no doubt derived its name from its having 
been the house of call for the drivers of pack 
horses, it having been on the leading way 
out of the town. It is said that this is al- 
most a copy of the famous Tabard Inn in 
Southwark, London, whence Chaucer's 
pilgrims started for Canterbury. 

Whilst in this neighbourhood, the visitor 
should not omit to take a look at Back Lane, 
a few yards distant, which probably gives the 
best idea of what a Bradford street was in 
olden time of any now remaining. Some 
few of the old bouses still exist, and the 
street was not much more than 3£ yards 
wide. 

An old inhabitant of the town relates that, 
in the memory of persons now living, large 
groups of spinsters might be seen on a fine 
summer's morning plying their spinning 
wheels in the open air in this lane. 

The earliest notice of a bank in Bradford 
is probably that of Messrs. Leach, Pollard, 
42 



and Hardcastle, 17^9. About 1802 the 
present bank of Messrs. Harris was estab- 
lished. 

Most persons who hear me will remember 
to have seen what are called tradesmen's 
tokens, or copper coins. In the year 1649 
they began to be U3ed, when, very little cop- 
per money being coined by authority, trades- 
men were obliged to devise some substitute 
for it. In 1672 they were cried down by 
proclamation. Bradford had its token. Thus, 
in 1812, Messrs. Lay cock, of Bradford, 
spirit merchants and grocers, used a silver 
shilling-token : they were called " Laycock's 
shillings." On the obverse is Bradford arms, 
with the inscript " James Laycock, Brad- 
ford." On the reverse, a figure of Justice 
holding the scales, &c, on her left a puncheon 
or hogshead, bearing the words, " Wine and 
Spirits," and a bale of merchandise on her 
right, and the inscript, " One Shilling Silver 
Token, 1812." 

It would appear that Wesleyanism took 
early root in this town and neighbourhood. 
Tradition says that Mr. Wesley preached in 
the summer of 1744, at Little Horton Lane, 
the residence of the Sharps, and now of 
Edward Hailstone, Esq. Mr. Wesley in his 
Journal thus writes, " Thursday, June 17, 
(being at Birstal) I preached at 5, on Matt, 
x ; about at noon at Little Horton, near 
Bradford ; about 3 in the afternoon, at Sticker 
Lane; and at Birstal in the evening." In 
the following year Mr. Wesley preached for 
the first time in Bradford. He thus writes, 
"Thursday, April 25, 1745. — I preached at 
Horton and Bradford." The connection 
between Horton Hall and Mr. Wesley's 
preaching there is this: it is stated that one 
of the family of the Sharps was a fellow 
collegian with Mr. Wesley at Oxford. 

The first place of Worship used by the 
MethodiBts in Bradford was the second floor 
of a large building near the Cockpit. This 
was in the year 1756. This room had been 
vacated by the Baptists, who in 1755 re- 
moved to the present house in Westgate. 
The minister of the Baptist church was a 
Mr. William Crabtree, one of the early seals 
of the ministry of the late Mr. Grimshaw, 
of Haworth. 

In course of time, this room not being 
considered safe, Mr. James Garnett, of the 
Paper Hall, in High Street, offered the 
Wesleyan Society the use of his " laith " 
or barn. In 1765 land was purchased for 
the erection of a chapel in Horton Lane, 
now Horton Road. The site was commonly 
known by the name of the "Hilly Close. " 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



The purchase money was d£20. Mr. Wesley 
thus writes respecting it: "1776, Sunday, 
July 17. — At Bradford there was so large a 
multitude, and the rain so damped my voice, 
that many in the skirts of the congregation 
could not hear distinctly. They have just 
built a preaching house, 54 feet square, the 
largest octagon we have in England, and it 
is the first of the kind where the roof is built 
with common sense, rising only a third of the 
breadth : yet it is as firm as any in England, 
nor does it at all hurt the wall. Why then 
does any roof rise higher ? ( nly through 
want of skill, or want of honesty in the 
builder." 

About 100 years ago, Bradford consisted 
of little more than Kirkgate, Westgate, Ive- 
gate, two or three straggling houses south of 
Sun Bridge, Barkerend, and Goodmansend. 
To these must be added Back Lane and the 
Leys, which were south of Westgate. The 
cloth market for woollens was in the Leys 
150 years ago. 

The two bridges over the beck or ford were 
the Sun Bridge and the one near the foot of 
Kirkgate. I think it very probable that 
prior to the erection of these, the water was 
crossed by stepping stones, and that the name 
Broadstones was derived from the fact of 
there being a ford across the water at this 
place. 

On the site of the present Sun Bridge 
buildings, occupied by Messrs. Maud and 
Wilson, Dixon and Masser, and others, there 
stood an old prison, two stories in height. 
The bridge over the beck there was very 
narrow, the east side of which still exists. 

The Parish Church. — Tradition says 
Bradford was called "The Chapel i' th' 
Wood," and no wonder, for all the hill side 
to Windhill was probably natural wood. It 
is not improbable that Paulinus, a.d. 620, 
may have preached here, for Bede mentions 
that he preached in the Wood of Elmete, 
which wood extended from Sherburn to Ad- 
dingham at least. The church or chapel 
would be of wood. A stone church would 
probably be built about 1100. At first the 
place was poor, and the rector would perform 
the service ; when it increased in value, a 
vicar would be appointed. 

The parish of Bradford was a part of the 
old Saxon parish of Dewsbury, which might 
be estimated at an area of 400 miles. The 
present church was erected in the reign of 
King Henry VI., and was finished about the 
36th year of that King, a.d. 1458. The 
steeple was built in the reign of King Henry 
VII., and took 15 years in building, being 



finished about the 23rd year of his reign, 
a.d. 1508. It is very probable that the 
present church may stand upon the site of a 
much earlier one, as in the taking down of 
the south wall of the nave in 1832, the re- 
mains of an ancient cross and other materials 
of an old building, were discovered. 

The ecclesiastical history of Bradford is 
very meagre in materials of interest. I can 
only trace the mention of St. Peter's (the 
present parish church), and the chapel of 
St. Sitha, or St. Osyth. 

Travelling. — I cannot omit a brief men- 
tion of the striking contrast between the 
facilities of travelling in the present day and 
in former times. It is almost within the 
recollection of persons now living, that a 
journey from Bradford to London would 
occupy four days; and that such a journey 
was considered quite an event. Whereas 
now the journey can be completed with ease 
in six hours. I well remember when theie 
were only four coaches passing through 
Bradford, in and out, in one day: viz. the 
Highflyer, Defiance, and Royal Mail from 
Leeds to Manchester, and coach to Skipton. 
Now, according to the railway time tables 
for this month there are twenty-two trains 
leave the Midland station every day ; twenty- 
two trains leave the Lancashire and York- 
shire, and twelve trains leave the Great 
Northern. As these return, the total ag- 
gregate is 1 1 2 trains daily. Supposing each 
train to consist of four carriages, and each 
carriage of three bodies, and each body to 
carry three persons, we shall find the number 
of 4,032 persons entering and departing 
from Bradford daily. 

By the old coach system, taking the four 
coaches, and allowing each coach to carry 
ten passengers, we should have eighty persons 
travelling in and out of Bradford every day : 
that is, forty each way. The contrast is 
remarkable. 

The Bbadford Canal was commenced 
a.d. 1776. It would be a great blessing to 
this town if this canal could be dried up. 
The amount of mephitic and noxious vapour 
which arises from it is enough to breed pes- 
tilence and death amongst the population. 
I have heard of the gas, in dry weather, 
being set on fire with a lucifer match. There 
may be some truth in the common saying, 
* Set the Thames on fire." 

So early as the year 1830, application was 
made to parliament for an Act to form a 
railway from Bradford to Leeds. It was in- 
tended that the railway should commenee 
near the Bowling coal staith, in Leeds road, 

43 



BRADFORD IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



and proceeding by Quarry Gap, Stanningley, 
Wortley, and Holbeck, join the Leeds and 
Selby line. I he money necessary to con- 
struct this railway was calculated at£l 91 .TOO. 
This application, as you well know, failed. 
The present Short Line, as it is called, or the 
Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction, 
nearly follows the course of the one intended 
by that previous Act. 

The earliest Turnpike Road was made 
about 1770. This excited great opposition, 
so much so, that a gate at Calverley Moor 
was destroyed by a furious mob, and a Mr. 
Thornton, of Shipley, the chief promoter of 
it, burnt in effigy. Prior to these roads, it 
would appear from the Court Rolls of 1687, 
or thereabouts, that every person was bound 
to repair the street opposite to his house, and 
the narrow packhorse highway contiguous to 
his land, and heavy fines were inflicted for 
defaults. There seem to have been gates 
hung in all the highways around the town, 
and the others within the leet, similar to 
those which we still see adjacent to villages. 
Within a very short time, the gate-posts and 
gates were remaining at the two ends of the 
Hall Ings . , , . , 

Prior to 1822, the town was lighted with 
oil lamps, the light being just sufficient to 
make darkness visible. In that year an Act 
was obtained for lighting it with gas. The 
company was entitled " The Bradford Gas 
Light Company," and was empowered to 
raise in shares of .£25 each a capital of 
£45,000. This Act rendered it imperative 
upon the company to supply the gas lamps 
of the town with gas, of such quality as 
should at all times afford a cheaper and 
better light than could be obtained from oil. 
So little was the merit of gas understood in 
those days. 

Bradford became a Borough, with power 
to return two members to Parliament, in 
1S32. Leeds and Halifax had had the pri- 
vilege granted them, in the time of the Inter- 
regnum, of sending each one member to 
Parliament. Mr. James, in his History, 
supposes that one great reason of this favour 
being withheld from this town, probably arose 
from the fact of its being reduced by the war 
from a third-rate town to an insignificant 
place; whereas Leeds and Halifax (especially 
the latter), suffered little from it ! 

The Grammar School.— The Bradford 
Free Grammar School is stated to have been 
founded in the reign of King Edward VI. 
Mr. James, in his History, says "it can 
plainly enough be proved, that it dates its 
commencement in times anterior to that 

44 



reign.' 1 Its original site was on the west side 
of, and immediately adjoining to the parish 
church burial-ground. Having become ruin- 
ous, it was sold, and the present school-house 
in North Parade erected in 1820. We are 
told that before the Reformation there was a 
singing school connected with the Free Gram- 
mar School, and that the singing boys were 
probably the church choristers. 

The Paper Hall is an old house, and has 
been one of considerable importance. The 
origin of the name I have not been able to 
trace. 

The Manor House, in Kirkgate, was 
erected in 17^3. The thing most deserving 
of notice in it is the staircase, which was 
painted in the early part of last century by 
Parmentin, a French artist. 1 his will amply 
repay a visit. The house was built upon the 
site of one called Bradford Hall, probably in 
the reign of King Henry VII., the period 
when the Rawsons settled here, having pre- 
viously lived at Ferrybridge. It is a curious 
fact, that in the year 1699, a grant was made 
from Thomas Frankland, of Thirkleby, near 
Thirsk, and the celebrated John Evelyn, 
Her Majesty's (Queen Anne) postmasters, 
to the William Rawson who built the pre- 
sent Manor House, in 1765, and Samuel 
Wainwright, of Ferrybridge, of the convey- 
ance of all letters and parcels to and from 
London and Ferrybridge and Tadcaster, and 
the several towns and villages formerly be- 
longing to the post of those towns ; and also 
the towns of Settle and Kirkby Lonsdale, 
with the towns and villages adjoining, not 
exceeding halfway to any other post-town in 
either of the northern or Chester roads. The 
grant was for three years at £ 1,470 a year. 

The earliest post-office of which we have 
any trace may be seen in the Mill Bank, in 
the third house on the left hand side. The 
opening in the door for letters still remains. 
This was removed into Kirkgate, to a house 
now occupied by Mr. Nicholson, — then to 
the Bowling Green, to an old house formerly 
belonging to the Rev. W. Atkinson, — and 
now to Post Office Passage. 

The earliest Workhouse in Bradford was 
built in 1738, the cost of which was said to 
be j£'360. This was replaced by the present 
one, erected in 1852. 

The Substance of a Lecture dkjuvbreb 
at the Mechanics' Institute, Bradford, 
on the 30th October, 1855. 



At the close of the above very valuable 



BRADFORD DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 



lecture, Mr. Fawcett spoke in continuation 
as follows: — 

'* In drawing to a close these my " Notes 
on Bradford in the Olden Time," I would 
remark that I fear I may have almost ex- 
hausted your patience, whilst I have far from 
exhausted my subject. If I have thrown 
any light upon ancient customs, or given any 
additional interests to scenes and circumstan- 
ces of bye- gone days, my labour will have 
been amply rewarded, and I trust the time 
occupied not altogether thrown away. To 
one like myself, not a new-comer or a 
foreigner, but a neighbour's son, the subject 
before us is one of thrilling interest, and it 
seemed to me that in these days of constant 
changes, both of localities and inhabitants, 
the subject would neither be uninteresting 
nor unprofitable. 

But I would not willingly leave you with 
this cursory remark. I would rather remind 
you, yea, press upon you the consideration, 
that with the march of improvement which 
we have seen in Bradford from its earliest 
days under the Britons to the present time, 
there ought to be a corresponding improve- 
ment in ourselves in all that constitutes true 
advancement, — I mean in mind and morals. 
Our advantages are far greater than those of 
our forefathers, our responsibilities are there- 
fore correspondingly increased. We have 
clearer light, and vastly extended means of 
getting good and doing good, let it be seen 
that we are not unmindful of our privileges 
in these respects. Our early forefathes lived 
in the veriest twilight of civilization; we 
walk in the broad day of civilization and 
progress. Let it not then be said that these 
our superior advantages are not productive 
of an adequate return. I would be far from 
throwing out the slightest insinuation that 
you are indifferent to the improvement of 
which I speak, and yet you will do well to 
be reminded of this, though you know it, as 
a stimulous to greater diligence in the course 
of which you are labouring to pursue. It is 
a fact which cannot be denied, as the last 
census proved, that great as have been the 
efforts to promote the education of the peo- 
ple, those efforts have as yet fallen short of 
their proper end and aim. We have not yet 
overtaken the population of the country, so 
greatly has it increased, notwithstanding all 
that has been done. It behoves us, then, to 
labour on with daily growing zeal and in- 
dustry, assured that Ave shall in the end reap 
a rich and plenteous reward. 

One word more and I have done. Let me 
especially advise the young to use well the 



opportunities of improvement with which 
they are so richly blessed. Life is too short 
to fritter away in the round of mere innocent 
enjoyments, to say nothing of those pleasures 
which debase and dishonour the dignity of 
man. Be it yours to fix a high and noble 
standard of intellectual attainment; and 
above and beyond all, and without which all 
human attainment will be of little real value 
to you ; remember, that " The fear of the 
Lord is the beginning of true wisdom." As 
to the importance of a diligent use of the 
leisure and opportunity which early life 
affords, I cannot do better than cite the 
words of the immortal Young, 

'* Youth is not rich in time ; it may be poor ; 
Part with it as with money, sparing; pay 
No moment but in purchase of its worth ; 
And what its worth, ask Death-beds, they 
can tell. " 



A GENUINE ACCOUNT OF THE 

SORE CALAMITIES THAT BEFEL 

BRADFORD IN THE TIME OF 

THE CIVIL WAR. 

By Joseph Lister. 

In the year 1642, one Lord's-day I went 
to Pudsey to hear the Rev. Mr. Wales* 
preach, and while divine service was per- 
forming, a man whose name was Sugden, 
came hastily up to the chapel door, and 
with a lamentable voice cried out, Friends, 
we are all as good as dead men, for the 
Irish rebelsf are gotten to Rochdale, and 



* The Rev. Mr. Elkana Wales, of Trinity 
College, Cambridge, the second of seven sons 
of Mr. John Wales, of Idle, was an eminent 
preacher in those days ; multitudes from all 
the country round flocked to hear him : he 
was courted by the grandees of that age, with 
whom he might easily have made his own 
terms, but no offers of preferment could pre- 
vail with him to leave his people ; Lord 
Fairfax in particular had a singular esteem 
for him. He was minister at Pudsey above 
fifty years, until the five-mile act came forth, 
which caused him to remove to Leeds, and 
there was an assistant to the Rev. Mr. Todd, 
where he died in an advanced age. His 
motto was, " Less than the least of all 
Saints." 

t Previous to this there had been an in- 
surrection in Ireland, wherein the Irish 

45 



BRADFORD DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 



will be at Bradford and Halifax shortly; 
he added no more, but immediately set off 
towards Bradford, the place from whence 
he came, on purpose to alarm the country. 

Imagine, dear reader, for my pen (See 
Note (1) at the end of this Paper) is not 
able to describe the confusion and disorder 
of the whole congregation-, some ran out in 
the greatest consternation, others began to 
talk with their friends, the women in general 
wrung their hands and wept, the children 
screamed aloud and clung to their parents, 
horror and amazement sat upon every- 
countenance, insomuch that the minister 
was prevented going on in his work for 
some time, till by soft persuasions, and 
exhorting them to a steady trust and confi- 
dence in the Lord, at length they became a 
little composed, and he went on peaceably 
to the end of the service. At the conclu- 
sion thereof, I immediately set home to 
Bradford, with great anxiety of mind. At 
my coming thither, I found the inhabitants 
gathered together in parties, advising and 
consulting together what method to pursue 
(for they had heard the rebels had got to 
Halifax) in this their deplorable state and 
situation. At length it was determined to 
send a party of horsemen to Halifax, to 
enquire further into the truth of the matter, 
who, at their coming there, found it all an 
untruth, for the supposed rebels were only 
a few poor Protestants who had fled out of 
Ireland, to prevent their falling a prey to 
the rage and malice of the unmerciful 
Papists, who were still pursuing the lives 
of those who had hitherto escaped their 
bloody purpose. 

This news, at the messengers' return, 
caused a general joy and gladness in every 
breast, for before all was confusion and 
despair, each one forming to himself how 
to preserve his own and the lives of those 
for whom he was concerned (for the pre- 
servation of life swallows up almost every 
idea whatsoever); their countenances now 
spoke the inward sensations of their minds, 
their spirits resumed their wonted vigour 
and alacrity, and trade and occupation 
begun a little again to revive. 

But ah ! how short and fleeting are all 



Papists had massacred 100,000 Protestants, 
men, women and children, in one night, and 
had also threatened that when they had 
despatched the handful that was left there, 
they would come and do the same with the 
Parliament and Protestants here. 
46 



terrestrial enjoyments; how are they subject 
to vicissitudes and changes ! for in a very 
short time after this, a body of horse and 
foot, of the King's troops, were sent and 
quartered in the town, who threatened the 
inhabitants what they would do, only waiting 
for orders to execute and satiate their bloody 
designs upon us, by destroying all with fire 
and sword. 

Here, gentle reader, pause a little, and 
reflect what a deplorable state and condition 
the inhabitants of Bradford must now be 
in ; none durst scarce appear in public nor 
go about their lawful concerns ; horror and 
despair clouded every countenance, and 
distressed the mind of every individual ; 
before it was only report, but now it was a 
matter of fact ; till now danger was at a 
considerable distance, but nowitwas a reality, 
and at our very doors; desolation and de- 
struction appear with the most formidable 
and frightful aspect ! Oh ! may our rising 
generations never feel the calamities of a 
civil war. 

After some time it pleased God in his 
providence to favour us with a little re- 
spite, for these troops were recalled, and 
we again left at leisure to act in such a 
manner as best suited our present circum- 
stances. 

We now began to think of putting our- 
selves in some posture of defence, supposing 
it might not be long before another visit 
would be paid us, accordingly we called to 
our assistance the neighbouring villages, who 
willingly came and seconded our resolutions ; 
we therefore set about fortifying ourselves 
with the greatest alacrity, resolution, and 
assiduity, in order, if possible, to frustrate 
every attempt that might be made upon us 
to deprive us of our liberties and properties 
from every invader whatsoever, for we had 
not the least reason to hope for any mercy 
from their hands, but everything to the 
contrary. 

We blocked up every avenue leading into 
the town, sent out spies, and watched every 
move of the enemy, a party of which lay 
at Leeds ; ere long news was brought they 
were breaking up their quarters, and making 
every preparation in order to attack us; ac- 
cordingly every man that was able to make 
any defence, provided himself with such 
weapons as they could best procure, and every 
thing requisite for their defence ; accordingly 
the enemy came forward, and pitched their 
tents on that part of the common called 
Hundercliff, in three separate bodies, where 
they entrenched themselves and lay there 



BRADFORD DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 



for that day, which was about a mile distant 
from the town; the next morning they 
struck their tents and advanced towards us, 
and came to the brow of the hill, where they 
exhibited to our view their ensigns of war, 
which were truly very awful and tremendous 
to behold ; here they halted, and made every 
preparation necessary to attack us; they 
were about seven or eight hundred men, we 
were about three hundred ; they had several 
pieces of cannon, we had none; they began 
to play their ordnance upon us with great 
fur}'; we drew up close to the town, in order 
to receive them; they had the advantage of 
the ground, which exposed us more to their 
cannon, from which we sustained some loss ; 
but our men defended the passes so well, by 
which they were to descend, that they got 
no ground of us; moreover, whilst each 
party were exerting themselves to the utmost 
of their power, Providence in a most mirac- 
ulous and surprising manner interfered in our 
favour, by sending the heaviest shower of 
snow, attended with a mighty, strong and 
blustering wind, which beat directly in their 
faces with such impetuosity that they were 
not able to withstand or support it ; besides, 
at the same time, one of their great guns 
burst asunder, which so intimidated and 
struck them with amazement that they, with 
the greatest precipitation and confusion fled 
towards Leeds, whilst we, not thinking it 
prudent to pursue them, by reason of the 
hurricane and other inconveniences, returned 
into the town. 

Thus it pleased the Almighty to deliver 
us out of the jaws of death, and afford us a 
scecond opportunity of providing against 
another attack, which we might reasonably 
expect would be much more formidable than 
the last, that they might revenge themselves 
upon us for their shameful and unexpected 
defeat ; for they had determined upon our 
ruin and final destruction, and promised 
themselves nothing short of success. 

We again called in fresh succours to our 
assistance from Halifax, Bingley, and their 
adjacent villages, and they came willingly 
and speedily to assist us; we also got a Cap- 
tain from Halifax, a man of military skill, 
who instructed us in the best manner possible 
how to guard and fortify ourselves, which we 
set about with the greatest diligence imagin- 
able, understanding that the Earl of New- 
castle, who commanded the King's forces, 
had got a very strong reinforcement, and had 
plundered Leeds already and intended to 
pay us another unwelcome visit, that they 
might satiate their revenge upon us with the 



greatest avidity; we therefore resolved to 
conquer or die, there was no alternative; 
our Captain mustered all his men, which were 
about eighty that had muskets or long guns ; 
the greatest part of these he placed in the 
church and upon the steeple ; the rest were 
armed with clubs, scythes, spits, flails, hal- 
berts, sickles laid in long poles, and such like 
rustic weapons; these he placed in such a 
manner, and in such order, as best to prevent 
the enemy from entering the town, or taking 
possession of the church, which we very well 
understood would be their first and chief at- 
tempt to do; we accordingly bent our 
thoughts for the safety of that place, which 
was sacred to God and man, how to secure 
it, if possible, from their wicked and profane 
purposes ; we therefore hung large sheets of 
wool upon that side of the steeple facing the 
road by which they were to approach us, so 
close to each other, and so nigh the roof of 
the church, that it would be with difficulty 
for a ball to penetrate the steeple. 

Having thus taken every method requisite 
for its security and our own, we remained 
quiet for some days, our spies being out, with 
positive orders, upon the first moving of the 
enemy towards us, to repair hither with the 
greatest speed imaginable, and to alarm the 
country as they passed along. 

Accordingly, on the 18th of December, 
being the Sabbath- day, the Earl of Newcastle 
sent the van of his army again from Leeds, 
consisting of five troops of horse, six troops 
of dragoons, and two hundred foot, com- 
manded by Colonel Goring, Colonel Evans, 
Sir William Savile, and Sir John Gotheric, 
intending with these troops to surprise the 
towD while the inhabitants were engaged in 
divine service ; but our scouts returned and 
alarm the town and country of their approach; 
and now what hurry and confusion imme- 
diately ensue ; the whole congregation be- 
take themselves to flight, and seek for refuge 
where they think most safe ; every man is 
now ordered to his post, armed with such 
weapons as he was beforehand provided with- 
all ; the church and steeple secured in the 
best manner we possibly could, being deter- 
mined (relying upon Divine assistance) to 
defend it to the last extremity. 

Again they approach us with the sound of 
warlike music and their streamers flying in 
the air. Tremendous sight ! enough to make 
the stoutest heait tremble, to shake the nerves 
and loose the joints of every beholder. A- 
mazing, to see the different effects it had 
upon others, who were fired with rage even 

47 



BRADFORD DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 



to madness, and filled with revenge even to 
enthusiasm ! 

They then advanced nearer, and set down 
in Barker End, not ahove three hundred 
paces above the church, where they raised 
a battery against it, but chiefly against the 
steeple, intending, if possible, to erase it to 
the ground ; perhaps because they feared to 
suffer the greatest harm by those who were 
placed therein ; ten or twelve of the best 
marksmen being in that part of the steeple 
judged most proper to annoy the enemy, 
others were in and about the church, and 
every pass leading thereto, and those into the 
town were guarded in the best manner our 
little army of men would admit of, which 
were very small in comparison to the num- 
ber of our enemies, which we thought upward 
of two thousand, with a train of artillery 
suitable thereto. 

Each party being in this position, the 
enemy began to fire with the greatest fury 
upon us, and especially against the steeple, 
and in a small space of time discharged their 
great guns seventeen times ; at length one of 
our men with a fowling-piece, from off the 
steeple, killed one of their cannoneers, and 
instantly we all, with the greatest courage, 
resolution and intrepidity, issued out of the 
town upon the enemy, who expected rather 
a speedy surrender than resistance ; this so 
much daunted and surprised them, that they 
were at a loss what course to take ; but, per- 
ceiving how advantageous the steeple was to 
our men, and how they were incommoded by 
the fire from thence, they presently possessed 
themselves of some houses and a barn nearer 
the church, very convenient for the shelter 
of their men, and brought their cannon also 
nearer the church; from hence they sent 
out Sir John Gotheric's troop of horse, who 
encompassed the town and some little vil- 
lages on the side of it ; they robbed a woman 
most basely, and cowardly slew two naked 
(or unarmed) men as they passed by; and 
so coming within sight of the town's sentinel 
at the west end, the sentinel fired upon 
them, and wounded two or three of their 
horses, one of which, being but slightly hurt, 
was brought into the town; and in a little 
time, partly by the shot from the town, and 
partly by the approach of some club men 
from Bingley, they were forced to return to 
their party. 

In the mean time, their cannon was re- 
moved to such a place as they could conve- 
niently play upon the town, and especially 
upon that part called Kirkgate, by which the 
townsmen must of necessity march in order 

48 



to relieve their party, and best resist the 
enemy ; those upon the steeple made great 
havoc and confusion upon the enemy, for 
when any bluff or scarlet coat appeared 
within their reach, they had two or three 
guns pointed in one hole, and discharged at 
once upon them, and generally with success, 
which thereby greatly deterred the rest from 
relieving their men which were in the houses ; 
and thus they continued till high noon; 
about which time there came to our assis- 
tance some firemen and clubmen from Hali- 
fax, who immediately were put to service, 
some in the church, others in the lanes near 
the houses where the enemy lodged ; those 
in the church and lanes kept the houses in 
play, and those on the steeple hindered the 
enemy from relieving those in the houses ; 
but seeing this was not the way to repel the 
enemy, for the largeness of the church win- 
dows, and the smallness of their houses, made 
their assault more secure and our defence 
more dangerous; which the townsmen per- 
ceiving, and, that this way did but waste 
themselves and their ammunition, they there- 
fore resolved to win or lose all at once by a 
general assault ; therefore, watching an op- 
portunity betwixt the discharge and charging 
again of the cannon of the enemy, our men 
sallied out of church, and being seconded by 
those in the lanes, rushed up to the houses, 
burst open the doors, slew them that resisted, 
and took those that yielded, the rest fled 
into the field adjoining, where some of the 
townsmen followed (the greatest part of them 
being employed in conveying the men and 
ammunition which the enemy had left be- 
hind them) and in the field the skirmish 
grew hotter than ever; the townsmen were 
too eager to keep rank and file, tho' they 
before had been taught 60 to do; but this 
disorder proved very advantageous to our 
men, for mixing themselves with the enemy, 
they thereby fought securely even in the 
mouth of the enemy's cannon, and in the 
eve of one body of their forces, both placed 
in the field above them, they not daring to 
discharge their cannon upon us, lest in so 
doing they should destroy their own men 
together with us; otherwise they had ten 
firemen for one, and might have cut us all 
off in an instant ; nor could our men use 
their muskets but as clubs. To speak in- 
genuously, their commanders being exasper- 
ated at the cowardice of their common 
soldiers, manifested greater courage them- 
selves ; but they were well paid for it, for 
our scythes and clubs now and then reached 
them sorely, and few else did the townsmen 



BRADFORD DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 



aim at ; one among the rest in a scarlet coat 
(said to be Colonel Goring himself) our club- 
men had got hold of, and were spoiling of 
him, but a party of their horse fearing the 
loss of such a man, became more courageous 
than tbey intended, so leaping over a hedge, 
came full gallop upon our men, forcing them 
to give a little ground, but they quickly re- 
covered themselves, tho' they lost their man, 
and, redoubling their courage, would neither 
give nor take quarter (not through cruelty 
but ignorance, as the enemy themselves after- 
wards confessed) and in the end forced both 
man and horse out of the field : Yet ours 
could not keep it, for now being separated 
from the enemy, their musketeers were at 
liberty to play upon our men; and now, in- 
deed, they rained such a shower of lead 
among them, as forced them to retreat to 
the next hedge for shelter, and so hindered 
them from pursuing their men. 

Their ordnance also all this time playing 
upon the town and steeple ; nevertheless, 
that which was planted against the steeple 
did it no harm ; that intended to scour 
Kirkgate, tho' planted in the most advanta- 
geous place, tho' the streets were continually 
crowded with people, and, tho' the bullets 
did hit. some of the houses, and some few 
whistled thro' the streets, yet was not any 
man hurt therewith ; which was nothing short 
of the wonderful goodness of the Almighty 
in protecting the lives of the inhabitants in 
such a surprising and miraculous manner. 

One circumstance somewhat remarkable 
cannot be omitted ; during the heat of this 
action, a stout young officer (said to be the 
Earl of Newport's son) heading a company 
of foot, came down the field on the left side 
of the high road, under cover of a thick 
hedge, intending to force a passage through 
a house, and so surprise the church. He 
(the officer) being too sanguine, pushing on 
a little too fast before his men, fell into an 
ambuscade; being cut off from his men, and 
seeing no way to escape, begged for quarter, 
but was answered by one Ralph Atkinson, 
saying, He would give him Bradford Quarter, 
and immediately slew him. His men under- 
standing what had happened, and struck with 
astonishment at the loss of their leader, fled 
with the greatest precipitation, and were 
pursued by a paity of our men, who slew 
some of them; then the whole bony of the 
enemy begun to retreat; for they had sent 
off their baggage before ; and thus the terror 
of the Lord, and our men falling upon 
them, away they went (using their feet 
better than their hands) arid about fifty of 
our musketeers and clubmen after them, 

Holroyd's Collectanea, Nx>. 4. 



which courage of ours did most of all astonish 
the enemy, who said afterwards, no fifty men 
in the world, except they were mad or drunk, 
would have pursued one thousand. Our men, 
indeed, shot anil fought as if they had been 
mad, and the enemy truly fell as if they had 
been drunk; some discharged ten. some 
twelve times in the pursuit, and having the 
whole body of the enemy for their butt, it 
may easily be imagined what good execution 
was done in a mile and a half pursuit, for 
they followed them up to the moor ; but 
fearing to be environed by the horse they 
retreated, so weary after eight hours fight 
(for so long it lasted) they could scarce 
return to the town 

One thing I cannot omit; a hearty Round- 
head (for so the enemy called us) left by his 
comrades, and surrounded by three of the 
enemy's horse, discharged his musket upon 
them, struck down another's horse with the 
butt-end of it, broke a third's sword, beating 
it back to bis throat, and put them all to 
flight, which relation (tho' strange as the rest) 
yet is most certainly true. 

There was slain in this notable and re- 
markable skirmish, Sir John Harp, the Earl 
of Newport's son (by Atkinson, who took 
great store of gold out of his pockets, a gold 
ring, &c , but it is said upon a serious reflec- 
tion, he greatly lamented so rash an action) 
and Capt. Binns whom the enemy carried 
away to Leeds, who died of his wounds three 
days after. Their wounded was Sir John 
Gotheric (whose horse was killed with a 
scythe), Colonel Goring, General of the 
horse, and about one hundred common sol- 
diers : Uf ours not above three at the most 
fell by the enemy, and about twelve woun- 
ded, all curable except two : There were also 
taken prisoners of the enemy, sergeant- 
major Crewe, twenty-six common soldiers, 
about ten horses, 180 lb. weight of powder, 
and about forty muskets. Thus our wants 
were supplied out of our enemy's store, 
leaving us in a much better stock of arms 
and ammunition than we had at their first 
coming. 

The next day the enemy sent a trumpeter 
to demand the body of the Earl's son, which 
was given them. Thus the hand of the 
Lord again appeared in the most conspi- 
cuous and astonishing manner in our deli- 
verance, who, by a handful of unskilful 
men, triumphed over and put to rout an 
army of 1000 men well armed and disciplined 
for war: With truth may it be said, The 
battle is not to the strongest, nor the race .to the 
swiftest. 

Our enemy now returned to Leeds, to the 



BRADFORD DURING* THE CIVIL WAR. 



other part of their army lying there, and we 
again were left at leisure to reflect upon our 
wonderful and surprising deliverance. 

Now we began to hope the worst was past, 
that the enemy would perhaps leave this 
part of the country, and we left at liberty to 
follow our respective callings ; but presently 
atter this my Lord Fairfax, and Sir I nomas 
his son, arrived at Bradford, with a body of 
forces, and collected what assistance they 
could possibly here, and marched towards 
Wakefield, in order to give the Earl of New- 
castle battle. 1 hey met at Adwalton, and 
immediately engaged e;ich other, where my 
Lord was routed, and his army dispersed. 
My Lord took the road to Bradford, with 
part of his scattered army ; Sir Thomas took 
towards Halifax, with the other part, but 
the next day arrived at Bradford, and joined 
my Lord, as my Lord has related in his 
Memoirs ; and now our troubles begin again ; 
fresh storms arise, and clouds of sorrow 
gather blackness over our heads, threatening 
us with greater distresses, if possible, than 
heretofore; for the Earl of Newcastle, flushed 
with the victory he had now gained over my 
Lord Fairfax, and fired with rage against us 
for the repulse we had lately ><iven him, im- 
mediately marched a most formidable army 
towards us, where he sets down at a place 
called Bowling-Hall, and presently comes 
forward to a place convenient for his purpose, 
where he directly points his cannon upon the 
town, but more especially against the church 
and steeple, as if he was determined to 
revenge himself of that place from whence 
he had of late met with such severe treat- 
ment. 

"VVe therefore took every precaution to 
prevent his mischievous purpose, and again 
hung sheets of wool on that side facing their 
battery, and put ourselves in the best posture 
of defence possible, in hopes of repulsing 
them once more. They presently began to 
play their cannon upon us with the greatest 
fury and indignation possible, so that 
their shot cut the cords whereon the sheets 
of wool hung, and down they fell, which the 
enemy immediately perceiving, loudly huz- 
za'd at their fall ! but night approaching, the 
firing or their cannon in some measure ceased, 
and we in some sort repaired our breaches, 

The next day, being the Sabbath, a drum 
was beat for a parley, which was agreed to 
on both sides, and continued the most part 
of that day : In the meantime the enemy 
took the opportunity to remove their cannon, 
brought them nearer the town, and fixed 
them in a certain place called Gioodman's- 
End, directly against the heart of the town, 
and surrounding us on every side with horse 

50 



and foot, so that it was almost impossible 
for a single person to escape ; nor could the 
troops within the town act upon the defen- 
sive for want of ammunition, which they 
had lost in their last defeat at Adwalton, 
nor had they a single match but such as 
were made of twisted cords dipped in oil. 

Towards night the parley broke up, but 
nothing offered advantageous to the troops 
in general, or to the town in particular, so 
that they immediately opened this new 
battery upon us, and made a most furious 
fire therewith; three men sitting together 
on a bench at the lower part of Goodman 's- 
End, tw T o of them were cut off, and swept 
out of Time in a moment. 

Oh ! that dreadful and never-to-be-forgot- 
ten night, which was mostly spent in firing 
those deadly engines upon us! so that the 
blaze issuing therefrom, appeared like light- 
ening from heaven, the elements being as it 
were on fire, and the loud roaring of the 
cannon resembling the mighty thunders of 
the sky ! At the dead of the night Sir 
Thomas Fairfax called a council of war, 
and seeing there was not the least possibility 
of defending the town or themselves, as they 
were but a handful of men in comparison of 
the enemy ; it was therefore unanimously 
resolved upon, thac, at break of day the next 
morning, every man should endeavour to 
force his way through the enemy, sword in 
hand, or die in the desperate attempt ; there 
was no alternative, every other method was 
impracticable, and this had small appearance 
of success; for the enemy had blocked up 
every avenue leading to. and from, the town, 
with strong parties of horse and foot; but 
Sir Thomas for his own part, and his officers 
likewise, were determined not to give up 
themselves prisoners to the mercy of the 
Earl: Accordingly in the morning the des- 
perate resolve was put into execution, and 
carried on with the greatest resolution and 
bravery; for notwithstanding the enemy I 
defended their passes with the greatest 
courage imaginable, yet they made their 
way through them with the loss of very tew ; 
men ; the greatest part of them took the 
road to Hull. 

Now, reader, here stop ; stop for a mo- 
ment; pause; and suppose thyself to be in j 
the like dilemma! Words connot express, 
thoughts cannot imagine, nay, art itself is 
not able to paint out the calamities and 
woeful distresses we are now overwhelmed 
withal! Every countenanee overspread with 
sorrow; every house overwhelmed with grief; 
hushands lamenting over their families; 
women wringing their hands in despair; | 
children shrieking, crying, and clinging to 



BRADFORD DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 



their parents ; death, in all his dreadful 
forms and frightful aspects, stalking in every 
street and every comer ! In short, horror ! 
despair ! and destruction united their efforts 
to spread devastation and compleat our ruin ! 

What are all our former calamities in 
comparison to these ? Before there were 
some glimmering hopes of mercy from the 
enemy, but now they are fled; fled in every 
appearance; our foes exasperated with the 
opposition they had met with from us ; but 
especially the cruel death by which the Earl 
of Newport's son fell, by our unwary 
townsman. For, behold! immediately orders 
were issued out to the soldiers, by the Earl 
of Newcastle their commander, that, the 
next morning, they should put to the sword 
every man, woman, and child, without regard 
to age, sex, or distinction whatsoever. Thus 
by gradation have our miseries and calamities 
been heightened, till like an over-flowing 
torrent they bore down all before them, and 
swept off every object with their destructive 
force. But here I must beg leave to inform 
the reader of a report that prevailed amongst 
the inhabitants (for I mean not to affirm it) 
of a circumstance that was said to happen 
the night before the above mentioned sen- 
tence was to have been put in execution. 

The Earl of Newcastle being in bed, at 
Bowling Hall, an apparition appeared to, 
and importuned him with these words, 
Pity poor Bradford ! Pity poor Bradford ! 
How far this was true, I humbly submit it 
for others to determine : But this I must 
affirm, that the hand of providence never 
more conspicuously appeared in our favour; 
for, lo ! the Earl immediately counter- 
manded the former order, and forbad the 
death of any whatsoever, except only such 
as made resistance; so that no lives were lost, 
save about ten persons who fell into the hands 
of some desperadoes, who, contrary to theEarl's 
orders, satiated their revenge upon them. 

Thus from a state of anguish and despair, 
we, who were but just now ready to be 
swallowed up, by the wonderful providence 
of the Almighty, were reprieved as criminals 
from the rack. See what a surprising change 
immediately takes place-, the countenances 
of those who were but just before overspread 
with horror aud despair, begin, in some 
measure, to resume their former gaiety and 
cheerfulness; a general joy and gladness 
diffused itself thro' every breast; the heart 
of those who were, ere now, overwhelmed 
with sorrow, are now big with praise and 
thanksgiving to God for the wonderful and 
surprising deliverance brought about in their 
favour ! 

Now it was, that the inhabitants, in some 



measure, durst appear again in the streets . 
amongst such I ventured abroad, and took a 
walk up Kirkgate, and, at my return, met 
with a particular acquaintance leading hi* 
horse (See Note 2); I asked him what he 
was about to do, and how he durst venture 
to appear with his horse in public ; he said, 
he had attempted to join the parliament's 
forces, but was prevented by the guards that 
were posted in every place about the town to 
obstruct any such attempt ; that his brother 
Sharp was gone a volunteer with them, for 
whose safety he was very much concerned ; 
that he feared he should never see him more, 
and therefore wished he could find an oppor- 
tunity to follow him : He entreated me, if 
possible, to accompany him out of town. I 
was very much concerned for him, but we 
were surrounded on every side by the enemy's 
troops, so that it seemed impossible to escape 
their vigilance, and therefore I could not 
devise which way to be serviceable to him ; 
I however told him I would ask my mother's 
advice and leave to accompany him, which 
I did, and she granted, tho' with reluctance. 
Accordingly we walked towards the church, 
intending to go thro' a certain lane called 
Deadman's Lane, but when we came there, 
were prevented by a post of the enemy set 
on purpose to examine every passenger that 
came that way ; we therefore returned and 
came up Kirkgate again ; I now advised my 
friend to leave his horse in the town, perad- 
venture we might better accomplish our de- 
sign on foot ; accordingly he did so, and we 
now walked up above the market place, 
intending to go down a lane called Sill- 
Briggs-Lane, but there also we were pre- 
vented by the like occasion as before; how- 
ever we endeavoured to escape their notice, 
and to evade their purpose, which we happily 
did by taking upon the right side of them, 
and so got down to the water side; but on a 
sudden we heard a party of horse coming 
down a lane called Leg-grams; we skulked 
under the side of a high ditch, where we lay 
undiscovered till they were passed by, not- 
daring to stir for some time, and night 
approaching, which was but short, for it was 
in the month of June, 1643; we lay there 
till day broke, at which time we set oft', 
intending to go to a village called Clayton, 
we had not gone far before we met with two 
troopers, who behaved pretty well to us ; 
they had left their horses in the town, had 
been about business in the country and were 
returning ; we thought to have returned with 
them, but meeting with two other person.-,, 
who, like us, were seeking refuge, we again 
altered our purpose, and pursued the road 
we before had intended. 

51 



BRADFORD DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 



We had not gone far before we espied a 
trooper on horseback in full speed towards 
us; struck with amazement, we all set a 
running together, and as we ran a sudden 
thought came into my mind ; if we continue 
together we shall all be taken ; I therefore 
immediately separated from my companions 
and made directly towards the opposite 
fence, where luckily meeting with a thick 
holley, I rushed into the thick part of it, 
and pulling the branches about me as well 
as I possibly could, while the trooper, in full 
speed, pursuing my companions at length 
evertook them, wounded one, the other two 
surrendered, so took them all three, and 
passing by the place where I lay concealed 
heard him enquire for their other companion, 
but they not perceiving where I lay. told 
him they could not inform him. 

Having thus escaped being taken by the 
trooper, I lay still all day, not daring to stir 
for fear of being perceived and pursued a 
second time: When night approached I 
ventured out of my lurking place, resolving 
to go to Colne in Lancashire, where I un- 
derstood my master (See Note 3) was (for I 
was yet an apprentice) knowing he went off 
with the party that went thitherward, after 
their defeat at the battle of Adwa'ton; I 
travelled all night, and coming thither, pre- 
sently found my master, who received me 
very kindly; he enquired how matters had 
gone at Bradford since he left it; I informed 
him of every circumstance that occurred to 
my mind, especially of my late escape out 
of the hands of the trooper; he asked me if 
I was willing to return to Bradford again 
and enquire what was become of my dame 
(his wife) and let him know further here- 
after; I consented so to do, and accordingly 
in the morning set out on my return thither, 
but when I came near the town, fear and 
amazement seized my spirits ; for some time 
I durst not approach it, not knowing whether 
the enemy had abandoned it or not ; and the 
late danger I had so narrowly escaped rested 
upon my mind; however, darkness coming 
on, I approached a little nearer, and so en- 
tered in at the upper part of the town, but 
durst not proceed far therein ; for I had not 
as yet met with any person to give me the 
least information how matters stood with 
them ; so stepped into the first place I 
possibly could meet withal, which was an 
empty cellar, where I lay all night, nor durst 
I .stir for fear of being discovered, but slept 
little. 

As soon as it was light, I crept out of my 
subterraneous lodging; but, oh! what a 
scene of devastation and digress presented 
itself to mv view! the kind's forces had 



entered the town ransacked and pillaged it 
of everything they met with that was value 
able, emptied their chests and sacks of the 
meal that was in them ; and what they could 
not carry with them, threw into the streets; 
emptied their beds of the feathers and chaff, 
threw them into the streets also ; so that they 
were covered with meal, feathers, uhaff, and 
other household stuff; drove away all their 
live cattle to their camp, which was at Bow- 
ling Hall, and sold them by public sale. I 
then began to enquire for my dame and at 
length found her, delivered my message from 
my master, together with some gold he had 
sent her; she informed me the soldiers, 
amongst others, had drove away her cow 
also, together with many other embarrass- 
ments, which had obliged her to take such 
methods for her safety as were disagreeable 
to her ; that her condition was such she did 
not know what course to take, and therefore 
desired I would again consult my master 
concerning her; which I immediately did; 
at the news of which he was sadly perplexed : 
He sent me back again with instructions to 
my dame, and withal advising us to go to 
the camp and buy our own cow, or another, 
get our grass mown, and stay together, if 
possible, till the enemy left the country, and 
then he would return home to us. I re- 
turned, and pursuant to his orders went to 
the camp and bought a cow, and brought her 
home; but beiore the next day at night the 
soldiers came, took, and drove her back to 
the camp again, to our great mortification 
and distress. 

Thus we repeated the like action again 
and again, and were as often served in the 
same manner as above, till we were suffi- 
ciently convinced, by woeful experience, that 
all proceedings of this nature would prove 
fruitless, and ineffectual, so long as the king's 
forces continued in the neighbourhood. 

Such are the effects of intestine broils, and 
civil commotions: Anarchy and confusion 
spread their baneful influence, and noxious 
vapours through the kingdom in general, and 
here in particular ; when our lives and pro- 
perties lie exposed, not only to our avowed 
enemies, but even to our perfidious friend^, 
and inhuman neighbours; fi r this was veri- 
fied day by day, some by force, others by 
fraud j and thus our lives and fortunes lay 
exposed to the destroyer for some weeks; 
till at length the enemy's troops were called 
out of the neighbourhood, to the gie.it joy 
and satisfaction of every honest mind. 

Now affairs begun to take a different turn, 
and look with another aspect; everything 
seemed to turn into its proper channel ; trade 
and occupation begun again to revive ; ami 



NOTES.— JOSEPH LISTER. 



the countenances of the inhabitants of the 
town and villages adjacent, again resume, in 
some good measure, their wonted vivacity. 

And thus have I given you a true and a 
full account of all that fell under my eye, or 
came within my knowledge in this distressing 
and unhappy affair; finally let the wish of 
every real lover of his country, centre with 
the poet, in the following lines : 

"No more ma} r Britons against Britons rise, 
"Nor her brave wan iors meet with hateful 

eyes ; 
"Nor fields with glittering steel be cover'd 

o'er, 
"The warlike trumpet kindle rage no more ; 
" Then useless daggers into scythes shall bend, 
" And the broad falchion into plow-shares 

end." 



NOTES. 

0) 

Joseph Lister, the writer of the " Genuine 
Account," was born in Bradford, in 1627, or 
two years after the death of King James the 
First ,- and died during the reign of Queen 
Anne. The rulers of England during his 
life would be Charles 1st; Cromwell; 
Charles 2nd; James 2nd; William 3rd; 
and Anne ; consequently he lived in stirring 
times, and witnessed some of the most re- 
markable events of English History. He 
received his education, such as it was, (for 
be tells us he was fonder of play than 
learning,) at the Bradford Grammar School. 
This school must have been of considerable 
repute at that time ; for 1 find that many 
.of the notable men of our good old town 
were educated there. Among them I may 
mention Dr. David Hartley ; John Sharp, 
Archbishop of York, who was born next 
door to the Unicorn Inn, Ivegate ; Abraham 
Sharp, the Mathematician ar.d Astronomer, 
who was born in Little Horton Hall ; 
Richard Richardson, M.D., of Bierley Hall. 
Besides these, Dr. Arthur Chartlett, an 
eminent and classical scholar, says in a letter 
to Dr. Richardson, — " It is long since I 
contracted a debt to the famous school of 
Bradford ;" and he then mention's that he 
had sent a present of books to the school. 
Mr. James thinks that Dr. Chartlett must 
have been educated there. 

Joseph Lister relates that when he was 
about fourteen years of age, he he was ap- 
prenticed by his mother to learn a trade, " to 
a godly man at Horton." This would be 



John Sharp, of Little Horton, the father of 
Abraham Sharp, before mentioned, and the 
trade which he went to learn was that of 
clothier; but as the civil wars broke out in 
1642, he could have made but little progress, 
for it appears that all trade was at a stand- 
still in Bradford, and, according to his own 
account, his master soon gave him his liberty, 
and wished him to do the best he could for 
himself. He then went to Halifax, and 
worked at his trade, but for a reason which 
he mentions, he gave that up and went to 
London in the waggon of a Sowei^ carrier, 
and for some time lived as a servant in 
different families. After this he served as a 
steward in the north, but returned to Brad- 
ford on account of sickness, and here, at the 
age of thirty, which would be in 165/, he 
married one, Saiah Denton, with whom he 
passed an agreeable life, and by whom he 
bad two children, David, who was born in 
Bradford, and Accepted, who was born at 
Bailey Fold, Allerton. It was two years 
after his marriage that he removed to B.iiley 
Fold, and he was visited there by Oliver 
Hej r wood, one of the non- conforming minis- 
ters under the Act of 1662, for the Uniformity 
of Public Worship, etc., at Allerton, May 
26th, 1682, and again on the 4th of June, 
1686. Joseph himself sometimes preached 
in the absence of the pastor, " as a gifted 
brother," in the dissenting congregation, at 
the old Kipping Chapel, Thornton (to which 
he belonged), as was then the custom of 
the non- conformists. 

I have visited the farm house, where he 
resided, at Bailey Fold, Allerton. Few al- 
terations have been made either inside or out, 
and it has a very ancient appearance. Over 
the door, on the left hand side, there is cut 
in raised letters, I. B. very likely the initials 
of Joshua B-iiley — and on the other side 
some figures which I made out to be 1612, 
but as they are cut in very soft sandstone, 
which is crumbling away, I could not be 
certain. The house inside looks very old, 
the windows having short stone mul lions ; 
and the leaded panes, point to the style of 
building which prevailed during the reign of 
the so called "good Queen Bess "and her 
successor. The partitions of the rooms are 
of oak, black with age, and of rude strong 
workmanship. 

The farm land lies in a beautiful situation 
fronting to the south, and must have been a 
pleasant home to the Listers. Mr. Hindle, 
the occupier in 1860, told me that when he 
first came to the place, some thirty-five years 
before, there was a small room up stairs with 
a fire-place in it, and some shelves for books, 
which had been used as a study by Joseph 

53 



NOTES.— JOSEPH LISTER. 



Lister and his sons. In answer to my ques- 
tion, as to whom the farm had descended 
after Lister's death, he said it must have 
reverted to the Bailey's; for one of that 
family was "sued out of it" by the Hird's 
of Liverpool,— why. he did not know ; but 
they afterwards sold it to the Lister's of 
Manningham. This same Mr. Bailey after- 
wards kept a school in a part of Thornton 
Hall, for many years; and two of this 
family, females, were living not long 6ince at 
Thornton. 

David Lister, the eldest son of Joseph 
Lister, was intended for the Ministry, and 
was first at school with David Noble, of 
Morley, a Scotchman, and author of a treatise- 
on the book of Daniel. He then went to 
Natland, near Kendal, to an academy kept 
by Mr. Frankland, where he entered May 
12th, 1675, and where he died 1677- Oliver 
Heywood writes under date December 1st, 
1 677. " Got out early ; visited, prayed with, 
and was much affected with Joseph Lister's 
case, who buried his son at Mr. Frankland's, 
on Monday last, a hopeful scholar." 

Accepted Lister, the younger son, was 
baptized in March, 1671. He was educated 
under Matthew Smith, at Mixenden, near 
Halifax, and was ordained by Mr. Frank- 
land, Mr. Heywood, and Mr. Thorpe (all 
ejected Ministers), on the 6th of June, 1694, 
at the meeting house, Little Horton, and the 
service at this ordination lasted some six or 
seven hours, after which they dined at Mr. 
Sharp's. Now as the Sharps of Little Hor- 
ton gave the ground on which this meeting 
house stood, I have reasons for thinking that 
it was at Chapel Green, in Little Horton. 
Accepted Lister first settled at Kipping, but 
removed thence to Bingley in 1695, from 
whence he returned to Thornton. Mr. 
Thomas Wright, F.S. A., states that Accepted 
published a sermon, preached at the dissent- 
ing chapel in Call lane, in Leeds, entitled 
"Christ's Coming the Believer's Comfort ;" 
a funeral sermon. On Sunday, Feb. 21st, 
1708 or 9, he preached twice at Kipping, and 
administered the Lord's Supper, and on 
Thursday following 25th Feb., died of apo- 
plexy. The old chapel at Kipping is now 
turned into a barn, but some of the old 
plaster is still on the walls inside. Over the 
entrance to the barn there is a stone bearing 
the date 1669. A new chapel erected in the 
centre of the village of Thornton, is now 
called Kipping chapel. Joseph Lister died 
just fourteen days after his son, and they 
both lie buried in Thornton chapel yard. 

On the 4th of Sept., 1859, 1 visited this 
chapel, and copied the following which is on 
a gravestone on the south west side of the 

54 



chapel yard, and forms one of the flags of 
the walk leading to the north- -vest-gate, herb 

IAETH 1NTKRRED THE BODY OF JOSEPH LI8TBR 
OF THORNTON, WHO DEPARTED MARCH llTH, 

17*'8 — 9, aged 82 vears. I also copied from 
another stone which is on the south side of 
the chapel, close to the wall, and under the 
Sun-Dial — the following: — here lyeth the 

BODY OF MR. ACCEPTED LISTER, MINISTER OF 
THE GOSPEL, WHO CHANGKD THIS FRAIL LIFE 
FOR A BKTTBR, FKBRVARY THE 25TH, 1708 — 9, 
ANNO .ETATIS 38 YEARS, AFTER HE HAD BY 
HIS ABVNDANT LABOVRS VEREFI8D HIS OWN 
MOTTO. 1MPENDAM ET EXPENDAR. 

On the 11th of April, 1705, Accepted 
Lister, being then minister at Kipping, mar- 
ried Mary Whitehead. His widow after- 
wards, (21 July, 1713,} married Robert 
Richmond, minister at Cleckheaton, and 
(18 Sept , 1728) she married a third husband, 
John Willis of "Wakefield. Her sister, 
Martha Whitehead, was married to Thomas 
Cordingley of Halifax, whose daughter, 
Elizabeth Cordingley, was married to John 
Wright of Bradford. Their son, Thomas 
Wright, of Birkenshaw, near Cleckheaton, 
was Grandfather to the present eminent an- 
tiquary, Thomas Wiight, Esq., F.S. A., of 
London. 

In an edition of the " Autobiography of 
Joseph Lister, " published in London some 
years ago; the editor, Mr. Thomas Wright, 
has the following note: — 

There was printed at the time " A Sermon 
on the death of Mr. Joseph Lister, at Kip- 
ping in Bradford-Dale, who died April 1709." 
The text is John xi 16. There is no biog- 
raph}*-. The only passage in which he and 
his son are particularly alluded to is this: 

" You have lost an ahle and faithful min- 
ister of the New Testament, whose route 
prospered under all the infirmities of a crazy. 
tabernacle, and who knew how "rightly to 
divide the Word of Truth." You have lost 
also an able, serious and experienced Chris- 
tian ; whose advice, counsel, example, has 
been your glory for many years. Two such 
lives gone from this earth, and gathered to 
heaven, as it were both in one day! Oh 
what a wide gap has the removal of them 
made ! and what a melancholy aspect hath 
it left on this assembly ! " 

Whitaker's Sermons, 8vo. 1712, p. 154. 

In the Preface to these Sermons, which 
was written by Thomas Bradbury, a popular 
divine among the early Disseenters, it is said 
of them: — Mr. Joseph Lister was an old 
disciple of great eminency for knowledge 
and holiness : He and his son, Mr. Accepted 
Lister, died within a very little time of one 
another. The Sermon was preached to the 



NOTES.— DAVID CLARKSON. JOHN SHARP. 



Church, which the one served as Deacon, 
the other as Pastor.'' 

Mr. John Denton in his '* Paneeyrick On 
Eminent Persons," Nicholls's edition, Lon- 
don 8vo, 1818, p. 421, says "Mr. Accepted 
Lister. of Thornton, in Bradford- Dale, is a 
little man. but one that has a great soul, rich 
in grace and gifts, of a strong memory, good 
elocution, accepted with God and all good 
men, and one that serves God faithfully in 
the gospel of his Son ; naturally caring for 
souls, and longing after them in the bowels 
of the Lord Jesus. " 

I have chosen for insertion in these 
Collectanea the "Genuine Account," in the 
belief that it is a copy of one of the Manu- 
scripts written by Joseph Lister, and there- 
fore in every way perfectly reliable. In 
this "Account," mention is made (on page 
47) of the Parliamentarians having " got a 
Captain from Halifax, a man of military 
skill." This was probably Captain John 
Hodgson, of Coley Hall, near Halifax; who 
appears to have written his own " Memoirs" 
in 1683, in a pocket-book which afterwards 
fell into the hands of his own son-in-law, 
William Kitchin : and were published in 
1806 by Constable and Co., of Edinburgh, 
being edited by Joseph Ritson, Esq. In 
these '* Memoirs," there occurs the following 
passage : 

" A good man, one Isaac Baume, comes in 
haste to Coalley-chapel, and there acquaint- 
ing the minister, one Mr. Latham, what their 
condition was in Bradford ; and he enlargeth 
upon it, to the congregation, with a great deal 
of tenderness and affection, so that many of us 
put our hands to the plough with much reso- 
lution, being well appointed with necessary 
weapons; and coming down to Bradford-kirk, 
found the enemy ready to make an attempt 
upon them in the kirk But we gave them no 
time; but with a party of club-men, or such 
as had scythes laid in poles, fell upon their 
horse on one side, and the musketeers on the 
houses, on the other side, and so beat them 
off j took most of them prisoners that were 
got into the houses; and had taken their 
guns but that we wanted a scattering of 
horse. We had a sore brush with them ; 
and made an honourable retreat, after an 
hazardous pursuit. " 

(2) 
This M young acquaintance." David Clark- 
son, was the second son of K obert Clarkson, of 
Fairgap in Bradford, yeoman, and was born 
there in 1622. Fairgap is the street running 
out of Westgate at the end of the Pack 
Horse Inn. The old name has, tor what 
reason I know not, been changed by our 



Bradford ' Daniels' for a modern one. His 
father died in 1631, and by a post modern 
inquisition, taken in 1632, it appears he pos- 
sessed considerable estates in Idle and 
Bradford, which he left among his three 
children, viz.— 1st, William, his eldest son, 
who married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas 
Sharp, of Little Horton (and sister of the 
John Sharp who was Joseph Lister's master), 
by whom he had 5 children. This William 
Clarkson was Rector of Addle, near Leeds, 
and was buried there 28th April, 1600. 
2nd, Mary, who married John Sharp, Joseph 
Lister's master, and is the " dame " he al- 
lude? to in his " Genuine Account ;" and 3rd, 
David, above named, (che brother-in-law of 
Joseph Lister's master,) was educated at 
Bradford school, and afterwards became fel- 
low and tutor of Clare Hall, Cambridge. 
He stood very high in his college for learning, 
and was tutor to Archbishop Tillotson, be- 
tween whom there arose an intimacy which 
lasted their lives, though David Clarkson and 
the Archbishop afterwards disagreed in their 
religious views. David Clarkson married 
Elizabeth, a daughter of Sir Henry Holcroft, 
of East Ham, Essex, whose wife was a 
daughter of Lord Aungier. David Clarkson 
held the living of JMortlake, near London, 
but was ejected in 1662 for nonconformity. 
He then officiated with much success to an 
Independent congregation in London (See 
Calamy's Account), where he died in 16S6. 
He was the author of several controversial 
pieces; and of a volume of sermons, printed 
in folio, after his death, which are yet con- 
sidered of some note. He had 5 children, 
viz — 1st, Rebecca, who married a Mr. Combe, 
and died in London, November 20th, 1744, 
aged 79 years. 2nd, Matthew, who went to 
America about 1689, and died there in 1/02. 
He was Secretary to Governor Slaughter, of 
New York, and left considerable property. 
There are now in America descendants of 
this Matthew ; one, an eminent merchant in 
New York, supplied some of the particulars 
in this note. 3rd, Robert, who was young at 
the death of his father, who bequeathed to 
him his library and a share of his property. 
4th & 5th, Gertrude and Catherine, who 
were pious women, and are mentioned in 
Gibbon's " Memoirs of Pious Women. " 
For further particulars respecting David 
Clarkson, the reader is referred to Black- 
burn's Life of him ; to Birch's Life of Arch- 
bishop Tillotson; Calamy's Account, and the 
History of Bradford, by Mr. John James. 

(3) 
This was John Sharp, of Little Horton 
clothier, a man possessed of considerable 

65 



NOTES.— JOHN SHARP. DR. HALL. 



e.-tr-.fc there. The house in which he resided 
still forms part of Horton Hall, the residence 
of Edward Hailstone, Esq., and an outhouse, 
still remaining, was prohably the clothiers' 
workshop in which Joseph Lister served part 
of his apprenticeship. The family of Sharp 
is of great antiquity at Horton. In the 
• Poll tax Roll 2nd, Richard 2nd, the name 
of Sharp occurs connected with Horton. In 
the time of Henry the 8th, they were the 
most considerable family there, and paid 
most to the subsidy roll. The above-named 
John Sharp was born 1 7th February, 1604. 
He married ill the year 1632, Mary, daughter 
of Robert Clarkson, of Bradford, yeoman, 
by whom he had eleven children, Thomas, 
John, Sarah, Isaac, Mary, Samuel, Martha, 
Isaac, William and Robert Two of these 
sons, Thomas and Abraham, became very 
noted. The former being born in 1633, 
would be about six years younger than 
Joseph Lister, and was educated at the same 
tchool, namely Bradford Grammar School, 
lie was entered at Clare Hall, Cambridge, 
in 1649, and took hie degree of M.A. He 
obtained the living of Addle, near Leeds, 
from which he was ejected in 1662, when he 
retired to Horton. He afterwards officiated 
at Call Lane Chapel, Leeds, and died in 
1693, leaving a son John, a student in physic, 
who died in 1704, aged 30, much lamented. 
Abraham, another of the sons of John Sharp, 
was the celebrated Abraham Sharp, the 
Mathematician, who was born in 1651, and 
after the death of his brother Thomas, re- 
sided at Little Horton Hall, where he died 
in 1743, aged 91. To return to John Sharp, 
the master of Joseph Lister. He was for 
that age an exceedingly well educated man, 
and wrote a most excellent hand. I have in 
my possession a MS. in his hand writing, 
which betokens him to have been a man well 
educated and of great ability. He and 
Captains Lister and Bradshaw, both of Man- 
ningham, were the great supporters of the 
parliament interest in Bradford. After the 
battle of Atherton moor and the siege of 
Bradford, in which he took part, he retired 
into Lancashire. He was present at the siege 
of Manchester, and with Fairfax's army at 
the battle of Nanlwich, and following the 
*oi tunes of Fairfax at Marstou moor. For 
his great services he received from Parlia- 
ment during the Protectorate a gold medal 
with the figure of Fairfax on the obverse; 
round the rim of the reverse " Post hac 
meliora;" in the centre "Meruisti. " He 
died full of honour, respected by all his 
neighbours, on Whit-Sunday, 1672. At his 
death he was possessed of large estates in 
Horton, for he was not only a manufacturing 



clothier, but a merchant. It must be borne 
in mind that at that period some of the best 
yeomen families in this district followed the 
occupation of clothiers, which they joined 
with fanning. He also was the receiver of 
Bradford Parish Rectorial tithes for Sir 
John Mayuard. John Sharp, by his will, 
left his house and land to bis eldest son 
Thomas, and legacies and portions, to the 
amount of .£615 15s. The inventory of his 
furniture and effects after his death amounted 
to .£190 16s , and the expenses of his 
funeral £16 5s.; both considerable amounts 
for these items in those days "With his old 
master and his family Joseph Lister lived 
upoi t?rms of intimacy. His son Accepted 
was ordained at Little Horton Meeting 
House, and the ministers and party at the 
ordination "dined at Mr. Sharp's." On 
referring to a list of persons invited to the 
funeral of Dr. Sharp, the grandson of John 
Sharp, who died as before mentioned, in 1704, 
I find the names of Dr. Hall and Joseph 
Lister, of Thornton, shewing that the latter 
even to the close of life still was deemed an 
intimate friend of the family. 

'Ibis "dame," Mary, the wife of John 
Sharp, of Little Horton, was daughter of 
Robert Clarkson, and sister of David Clark - 
son, as mentioned in the last note. She was 
baptised at Bradford, Feb. 18th, 1615, dud 
died Jan. 30th, 1678-9. She had 1 1 children 
as mentioned in a former note. She was 
undoubtedly one of the best educated and 
accomplished women in the parish of Brad- 
ford, Edward Hailstone, Esq., has in his 
possession a letter from her to her eldest son 
Thomas, written in 1656, in a beautiful haud 
for the period. It is full of piety and ten- 
derness. Her son was probably then at 
College. She alludes to Mr. Sturdy, no 
doubt the person, who was afterwards the 
famous master of Bradford Grammar school, 
as '"going and coming" to and from the 
place where her son was then at. 

The "Dr. Hall" of Thornton, mentioned 
above as having been invited to the funeral, 
was John Hall of Kipping. He is styled 
Dr. Hail, but whether so called by courtesy 
as an apothecary, or by right as a physician, 
I am unable to state. He is called k Medicus ' 
on his gravestone. He was a person of great 
importance in Thornton, and possessed of 
considerable estates there, which descended 
to his daughter Mary who married John 
Firth, of Halifax, and had a son Joshua. 
Dr. Hall, the great prop of Kipping Chapel, 
died soon after his friends, the Listers, viz., 
in June, 1709, and his and his wife's grave- 
stones lie on the east and west sides of 
Accepted Lister's. Joseph Lister is buried 



BRADFORD;- DELIVERANCE. 



at some distance from his son, apparently 
because Hall wished to be buri.d near 
Accepted Lister. 



BRADFORD'S DELIVERANCE* 

After the Lord Fairfax his excellency had 
retired from Tadcaster, the Lord of New. 
castle possessed himselfe of Pontefracr, so 
making himselfe master of our western parts, 
block't up all passages betweene us and our 
strength, and there manifested his resolution 
to sesse the whole county, but to exact ex- 
traordinary sumines of those who had sub- 
scribed the Parliament's propositions. 

"VVe could expect nothing now, but that 
those townes should first suffer who had bin 
most forward to assist the Parliament : Leeds, 
Bradford, and Halifax were princepally 
aimed at. In Leeds the malignant humour 
being predominant, easily converted the 
towne into their temper. Bradford was the 
next place in their way, the towne most nn 
able to resist them ; and indeed whoever 
considers their dangers, weaknesse, and dis- 
couragements, must judge their attempt as 
worthy admiration as their successe. The 
maine body of the Popish army was within 
a dayes march of Bradford, some amongst 
them grievously exasperated by a dishonour- 
able repulse from towne not long before. So 
fare were we from expecting help from the 
Lord Fairfax, as we thought it scarce pos- 
sible to seeke it. Our malignant spirits 
before charmed, now appeared breathing 
forth nothing but threateniugs against those 
who had bin most active for the Parliament: 
and their apparition was so terrible, as it 



* This curious account of Bradford's 
Deliverance is copied from a rare pam- 
phlet deposited in the British Museum, 
bearing the following title,— " The Rider 
of The White Horse And His Army, 
Their late good Successe in Yorke-shiere. 
Or a true and faithfull Relation of that 
famous and wonderfull victory at Bradford, 
obtained by the Club- men there, with all the 
circumstances thereof. And of the taking of 
Leeds and Wakefield by the same men under 
the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, with 
the manner and circumstances thereof from 
good hands. Seriously commended to the 
High Court of Parliament, and all that 
are of God's side for their encouragement. 
London, Printed for Thomas UnderhiU,1643." 
The " Rider of the White Horse, " was 
General Lord Fairfax. 



affrighted many of the best affected persons 
out of the towne; and thereupon, out goes 
our Royalists to bring in the Kings Catha- 
lick army. Some religious persons in the 
parish, considering what danger might result 
both to their consciences and country from 
such cowardze and treachery (instigated 
by feare of perjury, if they should contribute 
any assistance against the Parliament, and 
cure of their lives and estates, evidently en- 
dangered by a bare refusall without resis- 
tance) resolved to stand upon their guard, 
invited all the well affected in the parish to 
assist them, and entred the towne. When 
our malignants were returned with a letter 
from Sir William Saville, wherein he mani- 
fested an intention to burne and plunder, if 
we did not contribute to the maintenance of 
the Popish army. To which no other answer 
was return'd, than the apprehension of those 
who brought it, and had subscribed it; all 
couragious attempts, yea desperate in the 
account of many, who saw neither wisedome 
nor strength sufficient to manage them ; there 
wanted both the head, body, and sinewes of 
warre, we had never a gentleman in the 
parish to command us, nor would any stranger 
be perswaded to undertake the charge. All 
our trained souldiers with their armes, were 
with the Lord Fairfax, and the most of those 
who were fitted for service as voluntiers. 
Nor could it be expected, that the well 
affected of our poore parish, could pay a 
garrison any long time, and none would tarry 
one day without pay. Our neighbours per- 
ceived this, and therefore judging our attempt 
desperate (as in the eye of reason it was) 
and fearing the issue would be our ruine, 
refused to helpe us, least they should perish 
with us. Nor wanted we discouragements 
from our own men, to instance in no more; 
the very night before the enemy assaulted us, 
the greatest part of them left us. This was 
on Saturday, Decern : ] 7- The next morning 
about 9 of the clock, the enemy was dis- 
covered, approaching the east end of the 
towne ; they were marshalled in two bodies, 
the van was commanded by Colonel Evers 
(eldest sonne to the Lord Evers), wherein 
were 3 troopes of horse, 2 companies of 
dragooners, 100 foot, 20 pyoniers, 2 drakes, 
the traine of artillery commanded by Major 
Carew a Dutch-man. The rere was com- 
manded by Sir Francis Howard, wherein 
were his own and Captaine Hiliarda troops, 
6 companies of Collonel Eddringtons dra- 
gooners, and a 100 foote. Collonel Goring 
came along with them, and some say the 
Earle of Newport; but whether they had 
any charge or not in this expedition 1 heare 
not. AH these our Yorkshiere gentlemen 

57 



BRADFORD'S DELIVERANCE. 



had procured of the Lord of New-castle, as 
though Sir William Saviis regiment, Sir 
IMarmaduke Langdale, Sir Thomas Gleman 
and Sir John Gothericks troopes, Sir Ingram 
Hopton, Captaine Nevill. Captaine Batt, 
Captaine Bins companies had not bin suffi- 
cient to have swallowed our despicable towne. 
I should now shew how our men were mar- 
shald, but 'tis a hard matter to marshall those 
who had neither commanders, collours, nor 
distinct companies. The night before, we 
had borrowed a commnnder of Halifax, who 
had neeie upon 40 musquets, and calievers, 
in towne about 30 fowling, birding, and 
smaller pieces, and well nigh twice as many 
club-men. These our Captaine disposed in 
severall parts of the towne, 10 or 12 of our 
best marks-men upon the steeple, and some 
in the church; who being next the enemy, 
awaited not their warning peece, but at the 
first sight gave fire upon them bravely. The 
enemy who expected a surrender, rather than 
resistance, being herewith something daunted : 
and perceiving how advantagious the steeple 
was to us, presently possest themselves of 
some houses not farre from the church, very 
convenient for the shelter of their men, and 
planting of their ordnance, and from thence 
sent out Sir John Gothericks troope, who 
partly to divert us from hindring them plant- 
ing their canon, and partly to hinder the 
parish from coming to our aid, past through 
some parish villages on the one side of the 
towne, robbed a woman, most cowardly slew 
two naked men, and so came within sight of 
our sentinell at the west end of the towne. 
Our musquetiers there discharged at them, 
shot 2 or 3 horses, whereof one of them 
lightly wounded was brought into towne ; 
and in a short space (partly by our shot, 
partly by the approach of some club-men 
from Bingley) they were forced to retire 
back to their strength. In the mean time 
their canons were planted in places most 
convenient for battering the steeple, (which 
did most annoy them) and scowring of Kirk- 
gate, downe which our men must upon ne- 
cessity march to resist them. This done, 
Major Carew draws down some foot, and 
therewith takes two houses within 30 yaads 
of the church, and this he did without any 
other impeachment than from the steeple ; 
we having not any strength to sally out upon 
them, from these houses they plaid upon the 
church very hotly, and the church upon them. 
Our steeple had a notable advantage of 
them, which our musquitiers there especially 
improved against them, for when any buffe 
or scarlet coat appeared, they laid 2 or 3 of 
their peeces in one hole, and discharged at 
once upon them with good successe, and 
68 



thereby deterred the rest from relieving their 
men in the houses, and thus they continued 
till high-noone, about which time there came 
to our aid from Halifax some fire-men and 
many clubbs, such of these as came to fight, 
were forthwith drawne downe to service, some 
of them were placed in the church, others in 
lanes neare the fore-said houses ; the church 
and lanes kept the houses in play, and the 
steeple hindrdd the enemy from relieving 
the houses. But this was not the way to re- 
pell the enemy. The largenesse of the 
church windowes and smalnesse of the houses, 
made their assaxilt secure, and our defence 
dangerous, which our men perceiving, re- 
solved to win or lose all at once; watching 
an oppoitunity betwixt the discharge and 
charge of the enemy, they sallyed out of the 
church, and being seconded by those in the 
lanes, rushed in upon the houses, burst open 
the doores, slew those that resisted, tooke 
those that yeelded; the rest fled into the 
next field, whither some few of ours fol- 
lowed (the greatest part being employed in 
conveying the men and munition which the 
enemy had left behind them ;) and in the 
field the skirmish was hotter than ever. Our 
men were too eager to keepe ranke or file, 
though they had knowne howe to keepe it, 
and indeed their disoider was an advantage 
to us, for mixing themselves with the enemy, 
they fought securely in the mouth of the 
enemy's canon, and in the eye of one body 
of their forces, both placed in the field above 
them ; the enemy not daring to discharge, 
least with them they should slay their own 
men (otherwise, they having 10 fire-men for 
one, might have cut us off in an instant) nor 
could ours use their muskets otherwise than 
as clubbs. To speake ingeniously, their com- 
manders exasperated by the cowardize of 
their common souldiers, manifested great 
courage, but they smarted for it; our sythes 
and clubbs now and then reaching them, and 
none else did they aime at. One amongst 
the rest in a scarlet coate, our club-men had 
got hold of (and he in all probability, as 
some credible reports give us occassion to 
beleeve, was Collonel Goring) and were 
spoiling him. Their horse fearing the losse 
of such a man, became more coragious than 
they intended, leaped over the hedge and 
rode full upon our men, forcing them to give 
a little ground; too much (alas ! that they 
had known him) to lose such a man, but they 
quickfy recovered the ground, 'tho they lost 
the man; doubled their courage, would 
neither give nor take quarter ; (nor was this 
their cruelty, as the enemy complaines, but 
their ignorance) and in the end forced both 
men and horse to leave the field ; and yet 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



could not we keepe it, for we being separated 
from theirs, the musketiers had liberty to 
play upon us ; and indeed they rained such 
a shower of lead amongst our men, as forced 
them to retreat for shelter to the next hedge, 
and so hindred them from pursuing, till they 
had removed their canons. Their ordnance 
all this time played upon us, one of them 
ranged an 8 pound bullet ; yet see the Lords 
mercy to us: that which was planted against 
the steeple never hit it; another intended 
for the skouring of Kirkgate, 'tho planted in 
as advantagious a place as they desired, 'tho 
the street was continually crowded with 
people; yea, though many of their bullets 
hit the houses, and some the street, yet was 
nobody at all hurt therewith ; they bored in- 
deed 3 or 4 houses, yet (which is observable) 
did most harme to a malignants ; and thus 
the terror of the Lord and of us, falling 
upon them, sending their foot and artillery 
foremost, away they went, (using their feet 
better than they used their hands) and about 
50 of our clubbs and muskets after them ; 
which courage in ours, did most of all astonish 
the enemy ; who say, no 50 men in the world 
excepte they were madd or drunke, would 
have pursued a thousand. Our men, indeed, 
shot as they wer madd, and the enemy fell 
as they were drunk, and so we will divide it. 
Some discharged 10 some 12 times in the 
pursuit : and having the whole body of the 
enemy for their butt, it may easily be ima- 
gined what good execution they did in a 
miles march (for so farre they pursued them) 
even to the Moore, where fearing to be en- 
vironed by their horse, they retired, some of 
them so weary with this 8 houres hot ser- 
vice, as they could scarce returne to the 
towne. One thing I cannot omit, a hearty 
round-head left by his comrades, environed 
by the enemies horse, discharged his musket 
upon one, strooke downe anothers horse with 
the thick end of it, broke a thirds sword, 
beating it backe to his throat, and put them 
all to flight; which (though as the rest 
wonderfull) I dare pawne my credit to be 
true. And thus ended our skirmish ; wherein 
there was 

Slaine of theirs, Sir John Harper, (as one 
Savile taken at Halifax confesseth), Cap- 
taine Wray, (in whose pocket was found 
good store of gold, and a comission directed 
to Major Williams, which made us think 
him to be the man), and Captaine Bins 
(whom they carried to Leeds scarce dead, 
and buried two daies after), and many com- 
mon souldiers, . more I am perswaded than 
we shall ever know of. Of ours, I cannot 
heare of two that perished by the enemy in 
the fight. 



Sir John Gothericke got a bastinado, had 
his horse killed with a syth, and about a 100 
common souldiers were wounded, as we are 
informed from Leeds where they are billeted : 
Of ours, about 12, all curable except one or 
two. 

Taken of theirs, Serjant Major Carew, (a 
man of great account, borne in the Low 
Countries of English parents,) 26 common 
souldiers, about 10 horses, 180 weight of 
pouder, and about 40 muskets ; and thus 
God supplied our wants out of their store, 
giving us as many more muskefs as what we 
had, and well-nigh as much powder as we 
spent. 

This was the issue of the fight, wherein 
nothing can be seene but God, and the won- 
derfull effects of his glorious attributes : Let 
us and our enemies both see it, that they 
may feare and shame, that we may trust and 
praise our God, who hath manifested himselfe 
to be the Lord of Hosts. 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 

(Introduction by the Editor.*) 

To the Promoters of this Work, the 
Gentlemen, Merchants, Manufacturers, and 
Others, of the Town of Bradford, and 
elsewhere. 



* The little book from which these Memoirs 
are copied, bears the following title : — u The 
Memoirs of General Fairfax: Wherein is 
contained An Account of all his Sieges and 
Battles in the North Of England ; Especially 
the Battles of Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, 
Manchester, &c.,Written by Himself. Leeds, 
Printed by J. Bowling, and Sold by J. Hart- 
ley, and G. Nicholson, in Bradford. Price 
Two Shillings, 1776." 

This edition was embellished with four 
copperplate engravings, viz — A Portrait of 
General Fairfax ; a view of the Parish 
Church, Bradford ; the slaying of Lord New- 
port's son ; and one of the Ghost appearing 
to the Earl of l\ ewcastle, in Bowling Hall. 
These pictures are very rude, and would 
imply that perspective was not at the time 
when this work was published, much under- 
stood. The bed, windows, and doors, are so 
much awry, that the wonder is how they 
could be of any use, as they must have been 
immovable, if correct representations. 

There is added Lister's " Genuine Ac- 
count," and " An Account of the Life of Oliver 
Cromwell, " which gives a very concise sketch 
of M that great warrior ; the wonder of the 



• MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



Gentlemkn, — The utility of history to 
men of all ranks and professions, is a truth 
universally acknowledged and universally 
confirmed. 

It would therefore be impertinent here to 
enumerate all the advantages, pleasures and 
satisfaction arising therefrom : and as few 
are so averse to the acquisition of knowledge 
as not to be acquainted therewith ; more 
especially with those thiugs relating to that 
part of the country wherein Providence has 
been pleased to assign their lot: and though 
the primary intntion of this Tract was 
chiefly intended to set forth in a clearer light 
than hitherto, perhaps, hath been done, the 
many distresses and disasters which convulsed 
and desolated Bradford, and its neighbour- 
ing towns and villages, in the lime of the 
civil war; yet we hope it may not be thought 
impertinent or unnecessary, but rather en- 
tertaining and instructive to the curious 
reader, if we, in this part of our work, at- 
tempt to insert a few interesting and curious 
observations pertinent thereto, collected from 
the antient records belonging to several re- 
spectable persons in this neighbourhood ; 
they may not only serve to confute some 
received opinions, but. may also strengthen 
and confirm many doubtful truths. And first 
of the church : 

Previous to the present church of Brad- 
ford, it appears from undoubted authoiiry, 
there was a more antient church erected in 
or about the year 1268; upon what spot of 
ground it was situated is somewhat doubtful, 
some say on that part of the town called 
Turles ; to confirm their opinion, a stone may 
be seen, said to come from that building, 
whereon is cut, in the most legible manner, 
the above figures: Others alfirm, that it 
stood in that part of the town where the 
Market-place now is; but with greater pro- 
babilitj' may we suppose it stood on or near 
the same ground where the present church 
now stands, and was called The Church in 



age, courted by kings, loved by many, hated 
by more, but feared by all." 

* The editor was a J. Hartley, a Bradford 
schoolmaster, of whom I have been able to 
learn nothing; but he was evidently a su- 
perior man, as witness the introduction which 
I have given entire, in order that the readers 
of these Collectanea may see with what spirit 
things were taken up by our ancestors so far 
back as 1776. The Bradford Canal, and the 
erection of the Piece Hall in Kirkgate, were 
great achievements for those days. The 
author's address to his readers is withall 
concise, and well written. 
60 



the Wood, perhaps, because in those days 
that part of the town was very woody. 
That there was a church in Bradford at that 
time is beyond dispute, seeing the names of 
two of the rectors of that church have been 
preserved upon record, namely, 

Robert de Walkington, was rector of the 
church of Bradford, in the reign of Ed- 
ward the third, and immediately after him 
William de Merfield, was Rector of the 
same church. 

This church was an antient rectory be- 
longing to the patronage of the Lacy's, 
Barons of Pontefract, and Earls of Lincoln ; 
they presented the rector, and he for a long 
time presented the vicar to the church with 
consent of the patron, till the reign of Ed- 
ward the third. This church was given to 
the new founded college of St. Mary's, of 
Leicester, by Henry, Duke of Lancaster, 
and in the year 1416, it was by Henry 
Bowett, Archbishop, appropriated to the 
Dean and Canons of the same, reserving to 
himself and successors, a pension of 20s. per 
aim, and to the Dean and Chapter 6s. 8d. to 
be paid by the said college, as also 20s. per 
ann. to be distributed to the poor of the 
parish, the vicar to have the same mainten- 
ance the former vicar used to have. 

The present church, called St. Peter's, 
was erected in the reign of King Henry the 
sixth, and was finished about the 36th year 
of the reign of that king. The steeple was 
built in the reign of King Henry the seventh, 
and was fifteen years in building, being 
finished about the twenty-third year of his 
reign. The advowson of this vicarage was, 
with that of Calverley, granted by Queen 
Mary to the Archbishop of York, but they 
had no benefit by the grant, the crown and 
others presenting after that. The advowson 
is now in the heirs of the Lady Maynard, of 
Essex. The total sum of the tythes of 
Bradford is about .£590 per annum. 

A lecture was founded, and endowed with 
forty pounds a year for ever, by Peter Sun- 
derland, Esq.; formerly of Fairweather- 
Green. 

The school of Bradford, wherein origin- 
ally was taught English only ; a charter was 
obtained in the fourteenth year of King 
Charles the second, for a free grammar 
school. 

We shall now proceed to take notice of the 
ancient and annual custom of blowing the 
horn and holding a dog on St. Martin's- Day 
in the forenoon, whereof the common received 
opinion of this proceeding is, that a ravenous 
wild boar, of a most enormous size, haunted 
a certain place called the Cliff- Wood, and at 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



times very much infested the town and the 
neighbouring inhabitants thereof; so that a 
reward was offered by the Government to 
any person or persons, who would bring the 
bead of this boar; which much excited some 
to attempt it. Now the story runs thus; 
that this boar frequented a certain well in the 
aforesaid wood to drink, which to this day is 
called the boar's-well ; that he was watched 
by a certain person who shot him dead there, 
took his tongue out of his head, and imme- 
diately repaired to court to claim the promised 
reivard. 

Presently after his departure from the 
well, another person came thither upon the 
same intention ; and finding the beast dead, 
without any further examination, cuts off his 
head, and away he hastes towards the same 
place, and in expectation of the reward as 
the former, and there arrives before him : 
Being introduced into his Majesty's presence, 
the head was examined, but was found with- 
out a tongue, concerning which the man 
being interrogated could give no satisfactory 
account. 

Whilst this was held in susperse, the 
other man was introduced with the tongue, 
claimed the promised reward, and unfolded 
the riddle, by informing his majesty, how, 
and by what means he killed the beast; and 
thus received the following grant ; namely, 
a certain piece or portion of land lying at 
Great- Horton, known by the name of Hunt- 
Yard, and for the tenure of which he, and 
his heirs for ever, should annually attend in 
the market-place at Bradford on St. Mar- 
tin's-Day in the forenoon, and there, by the 
name of the heir of Rushforth, hold a dog 
of the hunting kind, whilst three blasts were 
blown on a G elder's horn ; and these words 
following expressed aloud, 

Come, heir of Bushforth, come hold me my 
clog, whilst I blow three blasts of my horn 
to pay my Martinmas rent withal. 

This relation, with the generality of people, 
hath gained credit for a series of years past; 
and 'tho it may in many respects have great 
appearance of truth in it; yet after much 
time spent in searching and researching, if 
perhaps we might come to a mure certain 
and substantial account thereof, at length 
have obtained a more perfect and authentic 
relation of the blowing of the horn aforesaid, 
which we will now proceed to relate, and 
submit it to the sagacity of the candid reader 
to which of the two the preference is due. ' 

'Tis^ a truth beyond all doubt that this 
part of the country was chiefly covered with 
wood, and consequently very thin of inhabit- 
ants; that it was much infested with wild 



beasts, as boars, wolves, &c, but more so 
with thieves and robbers, insomuch that it 
was with the greatest danger for travellers 
to pass and repass on their journeys ; for 
they robbed all that fell into their hands: 
Now, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, 
coming annually this way out of Lancashire 
to Pontefract-Castle to receive his rents and 
services, he, or his Bailiff, at one time was 
set upon and robbed ; to prevent the like di- 
saster for the future, he gave the following 
grant : 

Manninghana near Bradford. John Gaunt, 
Duke of Lancaster, giveth and granteth 
to John Northrop, three messuages and 
six oxgangs of land with a sufficient com- 
moning belonging to the same, with their 
appurtenances, to hold to him and his 
heirs for ever, rendering annually to him 
and his heirs, coming to Bradford, one 
blast with his horn upon St. Martin's-Day 
in winter, and attending upon him and bis 
heirs coming to Bradford from Blackburn- 
shire, with a lance and a hunting dog, for 
the space of thirty days, having Yeoman's 
board, a penny for himself and a halfpenny 
for his dog each day, and the same having 
received, to conduct him or his Bailiff to 
the Castle of Pontefract, with his friends, 
whenever the same shall be required : 
Given at Lancaster in the reign of Edward 
the third. 

Thus much for the blowing of the horn. 

This town has also been remarkable for a 
market held weekly for woollen cloths, in 
and about that part of the town called the 
Lees; the cloth being reserved from one 
market-day to another in cellars prepared 
solely for that use. Great part of this cloth 
was manufactured in and about the town ; for 
if credit maybe given to tradition, Bradford 
has been a much larger place than it even is 
at present, and extended west a considerable 
distance; be it so or not, beyond all dispute 
the manufacturing of woollen goods has been 
for ages past the chief branch of business in 
this town and its vicinity. 

But at this time (namely, in these civil 
commotions) the town and its neighbouring 
villages, and consequently its trade, suffered 
very sore ; for its inhabitants, together with 
those of Halifax, Bingley, and others, inter- 
ested themselves very much in the parlia- 
ment's favour, and by their uncommon zeal 
and activity in that cause, drew many of the 
King's forces into these parts, to the great 
disadvantage to the trade and commerce of 
this country in general. Moreover, in or 
about the year 1665, in the reign of king 

61 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



Charles the second, a most destructive plague 
hroke out in London, thp infection of which 
unhappily was conveyed hither (some say) in 
a bundle of old cloaths sent from thence, as 
the person who first opened them immediately 
took the infection; however it was, the di- 
sorder spread in the most rapid manner im- 
maginable, so that numbers were swept off 
in a little time. In order to take every 
means possible to put a stop to this pestilen- 
tial distemper, so soon as any person was 
perceived to take the infection, he or she was 
immediately removed to a certain place called 
the Cliff- Barn, about a mile ftom the town, 
where such as had had the disorder and re- 
covered, waited upon those who were infected ; 
provisions, with other necessaries suitable for 
such, were carried to a certain place at some 
distance from where the sick lay, and there 
left for the whole to fetch at their leisure ; 
such as died there were buried in the wood 
adjacent, where several grave-stones have 
appeared within these few years, which in 
part were legible, and in a measure serve to 
authenticate the above relation. 

These disasters following each other, so 
wasted and depopulated the town, that this 
branch of the woolleen manufactory by de- 
grees became of little moment, till at length 
the market for these goods entirely ceased 
and became void : So that for many years 
past, the manufacturing of worsted stuffs, 
such as callimancos, &c, which is arrived to 
great perfection, is now become the chief 
staple trade within the town and its neigh- 
bouring villages. For the sale of such goods 
there was erected in the year 1773, by the 
subscription of the Gentlemen, Merchants, 
Wool-staplers, Manufacturers, and others in 
the town and neighbourhood, a very elegant 
and commodious Hall, about fifty yards in 
length and eleven broad, the lower room of 
which is divided equally into two, by a brick 
wall running from end to end of the said 
building; against this wall, in these apart- 
ments, are fix t about 100 closets, in a very 
commodious manner, with a shew- board to 
ever}' such closet to shew the goods upon ; 
these closets are the property of such Manu- 
facturers as at first subscribed, with power to 
transfer; in these closets are deposited goods 
from one market-day to another. The upper 
room is also closeted, but upon a different 
plan ; these are occupied by such as did not 
subscribe, paying a certain rent yearly for 
the use of them. Hither are brought great 
numbers of pieces of different kinds, besides 
wo sted tops and gross yarn, which are ex- 
posed to sale every market day, which is on 
Thursday, precisely at the hour of ten in 
the morning, announced by the ringing rf a 

62 



bell hung in a cupola for that purpose It 
holds till half past eleven, when the said 
bell gives notice for the immediate breaking 
up : And likewise at the hour of two in the 
afternoon of the same day, the bell again is 
rung for the opening of a market for the sale 
of worsted tops and gross yarn, and holds 
till half past three; when in like manner as 
before the market is rung off. 

And thus <vith mutual satisfaction and 
advantage, the Merchant and the industrious 
Manufacturer meet with suitable accommo- 
dation in each other; the one in buying, the 
other in selling such goods as are wanted. 

'Tis wonderful to behold to what perfec- 
tion this most useful branch of business is 
arrived to within the compass of a very few 
years, comparatively speaking, in this part 
of Yorkshiie; but esp-. cially in and about 
Bradford. How amazingly great is the 
goodness of God towards us ; who from one 
period to another is raising up a set of men, 
endowing them with powers and faculties 
suitable to the employment they are set apart 
for; stirring them up even with emulation; 
blessing their endeavours, not only with a 
sufficient competency, but many with great 
abundance; to the mutual welfare and hap- 
piness of thousands of their fellow-creatnres, 
who are constantly employed by them : For 
trade and commerce is the bank of plenty; 
not only to us, but to every part of the globe; 
by this our wants are supplied from the most 
distant countries ; where trade and commerce 
flourish, the industrious poor add grandeur 
to the State ; the Merchants live like Noble- 
men, and provide the sinews of war against 
the most daring attacks of the enemy. 'Tis 
well observed, the number of hands < mployed 
in the woollen manufactory in general, nour- 
ish and support almost every individual in 
England; furnish and adorn every cottage 
in the Nation ; hence it is evident, that Kinsr 
and Subject, rich and poor, have a mutual 
dependence on each other for the demands of 
life. 

Come we lastly to speak a little of the 
uti'ity of the Canal in general, but more in 
particular of that branch brought up to the 
town, and now almost complete. The bene- 
fits and advantages which must of conse- 
quence flow from thence, beyond all doubt 
will be so numerous and permanent, that 
they are not in my power 1o describe 

Who amongst us at this day, even those of 
the most profound penetiatiou. would have 
believed, had they been told but a few years 
ago, that they should live to see so wonderful, 
delightful, and useful a vehicle as a boat, 
riding upon the waves, spreading ^er sails to 
the wind, and waving hrr pendants in the 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



air, in that field so many years known by 
the name of the Hall-Garth; I say, who 
would have believed it ? 

Few (perhaps very few) but what would 
have treated the relation with scorn and 
contempt ; nay, many, even since the grand 
undertaking was begun, have thought it im- 
possible to bring it to any tolerable degree 
of perfection ; but from a consideration of 
the difficulties already surmounted, which 
are many and surprizing, it admits not of the 
least doubt or hesitation to conclude, that 
every other obstacle will (in a few years) be 
removed and the work happily concluded, 
to the satisfaction, not only of the Artificer 
and Proprietor, but of every real lover of his 
country. 

If we look into the history of those 
countries where Canals have for a series of 
years been in use, we shall perceive in every 
page, the present glory of such people has 
had its scurce from that expedient. 

Canals will be a great and permanent 
benefit tc agriculture and commerce; and 
serve to make the nation rich and populous. 

Shall we not praise the Promoters and 
Encouragers of such a laudable undertaking 
as this this; admire and applaud their inde- 
fatigable assiduity in so arduous a task; 
such (beyond a doubt) are as instruments in 
the hands of the Almighty for the good of 
the nation in general, and for this town and 
its neighbourhood in particular. 

Bradford may vie with its neighbouring 
towns for ingenuity and improvement, pro- 
portionable to its trade and commerce, as 
every Art and every Science here grow to a 
degree of perfection. 

Let us then not only assert our just 
equality where it is due, but successfully go 
on to excel in every new and praise-worthy 
undertaking ; let every individual exert him- 
self to the utmost, in that branch of trade, 
commerce, or occupation wherein he is fixed 
by Providence, to render himself useful and 
advantageous to his fellow mortals. 

Bradford then will stand with the foremost 
in the list of its neighbouring towns, in fame 
and reputation ; and be deservedly esteemed 
for its situation and agreeableness in every 
respect to any such perhaps in the kingdom. 

Upon the whole, it will appear by the 
clearest reason, that the execution and ad- 
vantage of this Canal, together with the 
utility of the Pikce-Hall, will (under the 
Divine blessing) prove a great and permanent 
benefit, not only to the Proprietors, but also 
to the Merchant, Manufacturer, Farmer, and 
every individal in the town and county : 



That it may be so in every respect whatso- 
ever, is the sincere wish of, 

Gentlemen, 

Your most obedient, 

And humble Servant, 

THE EDITOR. 
Bradford, •» 
March 16, 1776. / 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX: 

WHEREIN IS CONTAINED AN ACCOUNT OP ALL 

HIS SIEGES AND BATTLES IN THE NORTH 

OF ENGLAND. 

In Gratitude to God for his many mercies 
and deliverances, and not to deprive myself 
of the comfort of their remembrance, I shall 
set down, as they come into my mind, those 
things wherein I have found the wonderful 
assistance of God to me in the time of war 
in the north ; though not in that methodical 
and polished manner as might have been 
done, being intended only for my own satis- 
faction, and help of my memory. 

My father was called forth by the impor- 
tunity of his country to join with them in 
their own defence, which was confirmed by a 
commission from the parliament. 

The first action we had was at Bradford ; 
but of this more hereafter. 

A few days after this, Captain Hotham 
with three troops of horse, and some Dra- 
goons, came to us: Then we marched to 
Leeds ; but the enemy having notice of it, 
quitted the town, and in haste fled to York. 

We advanced to Tadcaster, eight miles 
from York, that we might have more room, 
and be less burthensome to our friends; and 
being increased to one thousand men, it was 
thought fit that we should keep the pass at 
Wetherby, tor the securing of the West- 
Riding, or the greatest part of it, from whence 
our chief supplies came. 

I was sent to Wetherby with three hun- 
dred foot, and forty horse ; the enemy's next 
design from York, was to fall upon my 
quarter's there, being a place very open, and 
easy for them to assault, there being so many 
back-ways, and friends enough to direct 
them, and give them intelligence. 

About six o'clock one morning they fell 
upon us with eight hundred horse and foot, 
the woods thereabout favouring them so 
much, that our scouts had no notice of them, 
and no alarm was given till they were ready 
to enter the town : Which they might easily 

63 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



do, the guards being all asleep in houses ; 
for in the beginning of the war, men were as 
impatient of duty, as they were ignorant of 
it. 

I myself was only on horse-back, and 
going out of the other end of the town to 
Tadcaster, where my father lay, when one 
came running after me, and told me the 
enemy was entering the town ; I presently 
galloped to the court of guard, where I found 
not above four men at their arms, as I re- 
member, two Serjeants, and two pikemen, 
who stood with me when Sir Thomas Glen- 
ham, with about six or seven commanders 
more, charged us; and after a short, but 
smart encounter, they retired, in which one 
Major Carr was slain; and by this time more 
of the guards were got to their arms. I must 
confess I knew no strength but the powerful 
hand of God that gave them this repulse. 

After this they made another attempt, in 
which Captain Atkinson (on our part) was 
slain : And here again there fell out another 
remarkable providence, during this conflict, 
our magazine was blown up. This struck 
such a terror into the enemy, believing we 
had cannon, which they were before informed 
we had not, that they instantly retreated ; 
and though I had but a few horse, we pur- 
sued the enemy some miles, and took many 
prisoners: We lost about eight or ten men, 
whereof seven were blown up with powder ; 
the enemy lost many more. 

At this time the Earl of Cumberland 
commanded the forces in Yorkshire for the 
King ; he being of a peaceable nature, and 
affable disposition, had but few enemies ; or 
rather, because he was an enemy to few, he 
did not suit their present condition. Their 
apprehensions and fears caused them to send 
to the Earl of Newcastle, who had an army 
of six thousand men, to desire his assistance, 
whereof he assured them by a speedy march 
to York. 

Being now encouraged by this increase of 
force, they resolved to fall upon Tadcaster. 
My father drew all his men thither; but, in 
a council of war, the town was judged un- 
tenable, and that we should draw out to an 
advantageous piece of ground, by the town ; 
but before we could all march out, the enemy 
advanced so last, that we were necessitated 
to leave some foot in a flight work above the 
bridge, to secure our retreat, but the enemy 
pressing on us 'forced us to draw back, to 
maintain that ground. 

"We had about nine hundred men, the 
enemy above four thousand, who in brigades 
drew up close to the woiks and stormed us. 
Our men leserved their shot, till they came 
near, which they did then dispose of to so 
61 



good purpose, that the enemy was forced to 
retire, and shelter themselves behind hedges. 
And here did the first fight continue from 
eleven o'clock at noon, till five at night, with 
cannon and musquet, without intermission. 

They had once possessed a house by the 
bridge, which would have cut us from our 
reserves that were in the town, but Major 
General GifFord, with a commanded party, 
beat them out again, where many of the 
enemy were slain, and taken prisoners. They 
attempted at another place, but were re- 
pulsed by Captain Lister, who was there 
slain ; a great loss, being a 'discreet gentle- 
man. 

By this time it grew dark, and the enemy 
drew off into the fields hard by, with inten- 
tion to assault us again the next day. 

They left that night above two hundred 
dead and wounded upon the place. But our 
ammunition being all spent in this day's 
fight, we drew off that night, and marched to 
Selby, and the enemy entered the next 
morning into the town. Thus by the mercy 
of God were a few delivered from an Army, 
who in their thoughts had swallowed us up. 

The earl of Newcastle now lay betwixt us 
and our friends in the West-Riding ; but to 
assist and encourage them I was sent with 
about three hundred foot, three troops of 
horse, and some arms to Bradford : I was to 
go by Ferry-bridge, our intelligence being 
that the enemy was advanced no further than 
Sherburne; but when I was within a mile of 
the town, we took some prisoners who told 
us, my Lord of Newcastle lay at Fontefraet, 
eight hundred men in Ferry bridge, and the 
rest of the army in all the towns thereabout : 
So that our advance or retreat seemed alike 
difficult. Little time being allowed us to 
consider, we resolved to retreat to elby : 
Three or four hundred horse of the enemy 
shewed themselves in the rear, without 
making any attempt upon us, so that, by the 
goodness of God, we got safe to Selby. 

Three days after this, upon better intelli- 
gence how the enemy lay, with the same 
number as before, I marched in the night by 
several towns where they lay, and came the 
next day to Bradford, a town very untenable, 
but for their good affection to us, deserving 
all we could hazard for them. 

Our first work then was to fortify our- 
selves, for we could not but expect an assault. 
There lay at Leeds fifteen hundred of the 
enemy, and twelve hundred at Wakefield, 
neither place above six or seven miles dis- 
tant from us. They visited us every day 
with their horse, ours not going far from the 
town, being very unequal in number; yet 
the enemy seldom returned w.r.hout loss, till 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



at last our few men grew so hold, and theirs 
so disheartened, that they durst not stir a 
mile from their garrisons. 

Whilst these daily skirmishes were a- 

% mongst the horse, I thought it necessary to 

^strengthen ourselves with more foot; I sum- 

JTioued the country, who had by this time 

/more liberty to come to us. I presently 

/armed them with those arms we brought 

^ along with us ; so that in all we were about 

eight hundred foot. 

Being too many to lie idle, and too few to 
be upon constant duty, we resolved, through 
the assistance of God, to attempt them in 
their garrisons. 

On Monday, being the 23d of January, 
1643. I marched from Bradford with six 
troops of horse and three companies of dra- 
goons, under the command of Sir Henry 
Fowles, my Commissary, or Lieutenant 
General of horse; and near 1000 musket- 
eers and 2000 clubmen, under the command 
of Sir William Fairfax, Colonel and Lieu- 
tenaut Geneial of the foot, one company of 
these also being dragoons, under Captain 
Mildmay ; about 30 musketeers, and J000 
club- men marched on the southside toward 
Wakefield, the rest on the north -side toward 
Woodhouse-moor. On the west-side we 
commended the cause to God by prayer : 
I dispatched a trumpeteer to Sir William 
Saville, Commander in Chief, at Leeds, un- 
der the Earl of Newcast le, requiring, in 
writing, the town to be delivered to me for 
the King and Parliament, to which Sir 
William disdainfully answered immediately, 
and said, he used not: to give answer to such 
frivolous demands, and that he wondered Sir 
Thomas would be so uncivil as to come so 
near the town before he had acquainted him 
with it; and that there might be more virtue 
in his actions than in that paper sent him : 
So confident he seemed to be, with the 
strength he had in the town, he could well 
enough keep it, wherein were about 2000 
men, namely 1500 foot and 500 troops of 
horse and dragoons, and two pieces of can- 
non : This summons being thus refused, 
we approached nearer the south-west-side of 
the town with our forces, and being within 
view thereof, with our banners displayed, 
(being about 36 colours) I sent another 
trumpeter to Sir William Saville, who short- 
ly after, by a trumpeter, assured us that we 
should get nothing but by fight, whereupon 
we prepared for an assault, and instantly 
drew out of our companies five colours of out- 
most expert soldiers, and appointed them to 
march down w'ith Captain Forbes, Captain 
Briggs, Lee, Frank, and Palmer, with his 
dragoons on foot, toward the water along 
Holroyd's Collectanka, No, 5. 



the trenches, near to, and above which 
about 100 musketeers were drawn out of 
the town on a hill, and about one o'clock 
in the afternoon, they gave fire from the 
inside of their works upon our musketeers, 
who approaching nearer, shrouded them- 
selves under a hill and let fly at the said 
centry, with no loss at all on either side, 
they within the trenches shooting too high, 
and the other at the trenches, and thus the 
fight between them began most fiercely : 
Now we having the word, which was, Emman- 
uel; and every commander in their several 
stations gave charges and commands, and 
riding from place to place encouraged their 
men to fall on resolutely; who being might 
ily emboldened by their valiant leaders, 
performed the same with admirable courage; 
and although most of them were but inex- 
perienced fresh-water men, taken up about 
Bradford and Halifax, but upon the Satur- 
day before, yet they came on most resolutely 
and valiantly, especially the musketeers 
under Sir William Fairfax, Commander 
of the foot, who most courageously, at the 
head of bis regiment, and in the face of the 
enemy, stormed the town most furiously, 
whereupon began very hot service; Captain 
Forbes also behaving himself most valiantly 
about the enemy's trenches and out- works, 
from whence they played very sharply 
against our men, but were as hotly answered 
by us with admirable courage and ft ar less 
resolution, under the conduct of this noble 
Captain; insomuch that notwithstanding 
the enemy's utmost endeavours to oppose us, 
together with the assistance of their cannon 
which were often discharged upon our men, 
yet they soon killed their cannoniers, and 
after a furious fight of two hours, out men 
most bravely beat them quite from their 
worKS; when bullets flew about our men's 
ears as thick as hail yet myself, Sir William 
Fairfax, and Sir Henry Fowles on one side, 
ttnd the resolute Captain F#rbes with his 
brave company on the other side, made way 
into the town most furiously sword in hand, 
and violent force of arms, beiug closely fol- 
lowed by the dauntless club- men, and so 
with much difficulty got possession thereof 
within the space of two hours, wherein were 
found two brass cannon and good store of 
arms and ammunition, which we presently 
seized ; we took also four colours, and 500 
prisoners, among whom were six comman- 
ders, most of the rest were common soldiers, 
who upon taking an oath never to fight m 
this cause, against the King and Parliament, 
were set at liberty and suffered to depart, 
but unarmed. There were not above forty 
slain, whereof ten or twelve at the most on 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



our side, the rest on theirs : Serjeant Major 
Beaumont, in his flight, endeavouring to 
cross the river to save his life, lost it by 
being drowned therein; and Sir William 
Saville, their General, in his flight, also 
crossing the same river hardly escaped the 
same fate. Thus, by the Lord's mighty and 
most merciful assistance, vve obtained a great 
and glorious victory, which may so appear 
considering the town was so strongly fortified 
with out- works, and so well manned within 
as was before mentioned ; which also did 
strike such terror into the Earl of Newcas- 
tle's army, that the several garrisons of 
Wakefield, Sberbourn, and Pontefract, fled 
all away presently before any assaulted 
them, some few only excepted that stayed 
at Pontefract castle to keep it. 

The consequence of this action was yet of 
more importance; for those who fled from 
Leeds to Wakefield, and quitting that gar- 
rison also, gave my Lord of Newcastle such 
an alarm at Pontefract, that he drew all his 
army again to York, leaving once more a 
free intercouse, which he had so long time 
cut off, betwixt my father and us. 

After a short time the Earl of Newcastle 
return'd again to the same quarters, and we 
to our stricter duties. But we quickly found 
our men must have more room, or more 
action. 

Captain Hotham and I took a resolution 
early one morning (from Selby) to beat up 
a quarter of the enemies that lay at Fenton ; 
they being gone, we marched to Sherburne, 
intending there only to give them an alarm; 
but they might see us a mile or more, over 
a plain Common, which lay by the town, and 
(bey sent twenty or thirty horse, to guard a 
pass near the town ; I bad the van ; for at 
this time we commanded our troops distinct 
one from another, both making five troops 
of horse, and two of dragoons. 1 told Cap- 
tain Hotham, that if he would second me, I 
would charge thdfce horse, and if they fled, I 
would pursue them so close as to get into 
the town with them: He promised to see- 
on. I me; I went to the head of my troops, 
and presently charged them, they lied, and 
we pursued close to the barricade, but they 
got in and shut it upon us : Merc my horse 
was shot in at the breast: We .so filled the 
lane, being strait, that we could not retreat 
without confusion, and danger of their 
falling in our rear, so we stood to it, and 
stormed the works with pistol and sword : 
At the end of the barrieado, there was a 
narrow passage for a single horse to go in ; I 
entered there, others following me, one by 
one ; and close at one side of the entrance 
toori ' orse of the enemy: So *™n 

66 



as eight or ten of us were got in, we charged 
them, and they fled: by this time the rest 
of our men had beat them from their barri- 
eado, and entered the town. We soon cleared 
the streets, and pursued those that fled. And 
now my horse, which was shot in the lane, 
fell down dead under me, but I was presently 
mounted again. 

The enemy in the towns about having 
taken the alarm, it made us think of securing 
our retreat with the prisoners we bad got, 
some of them being considerable, among 
whom was Major General Windham ; we 
scarce got into order before General Goring 
came with a good body of horse up to us, and 
as we marched off, he followed us close in 
the rear, without doing us any hurt, only 
my trumpet had his horse shot close by me, 
and thus we returned to Selby. 

Though this did not free us wholly from a 
potent enemy, yet we lay more quietly by 
them a good while after. 

In this recess of action, we had several 
treaties about prisoners ; and this I mention 
the rather, for that Captain Hotham here 
first began to discover his intentions of leav- 
ing the parliament's service, in making con- 
ditions for himself, with the Earl of New- 
castle, though it was not discovered till a 
good while after, which had almost ruined 
my father, and the forces with him; for 
being now denied help and succour from 
Hull, and the East- Riding, he was forced to 
forsake Selby, and retire to Leeds, and those 
western parts where I then lay. 

To make good this retreat, I was sent to, 
to bring what men 1 could to join with him 
at Sherburne, for my Lord of Newcastle's 
army lay so as he might easily intercept us 
in our way to Leeds, which he had determin'd 
to do, and to that end lay with his army on 
Clifford Moor, having present intelligence 
of our march. 

Whilst my father, with fifteen hundred 
men, ordnance, and ammunition, continued 
his way from Selby to Leeds, I with those I 
brought to Sherburne, marched a little aside, 
betwixt my Lord of Newcastle's army and 
ouis. And to amuse them the more, made 
an attempt upon Tadcastcr, where they bad 
three or four hundred men, who presently 
quitted the town, ;ind fled to York. 

Merc we Btayed three or four hours, fight- 
ing the works; which put my Lord of 
Newcastle's army to a stand, being on their 
march to meet as, thinking he was deceived 
in his intelligence, and that we had some 
other design upon York; he presently sends 
back the Lord Goring with twenty troops of 
horse and dragoons to relieve Tadcaster. 

ere nearly drawn off when he came> 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FATRFAX. 



my Lord Goring past over the river to fol- 
low us, but seeing we were far unequal in 
horse to him, (for I had not above three 
troops,and were to go over Bramham-Moor 
plain) I gave direction to the foot to march 
away, whilst I stay'd with the horse to in- 
terrupt the enemy's passage in those narrow 
lanes that lead up to the moor. Here was 
much firing at one another ; but in regard of 
their great numbers, as they advanced, wc 
were forced to give way; yet had gained by 
it sufficient time for the foot to have been 
out of danger. 

When we came up to the moor again, I 
found them where 1 left them, which troubled 
me much, the Enemy being close upon us, 
and a great Plain yet to go over. So wc 
marching the foot in two divisions, and the 
horse in the rear, the enemy followed about 
two musket- shot from us, in three good 
bodies, but made no attempt upon us : And 
thus we got well over this open campaign, 
to some inclosures, beyond which was another . 
moor, less than the other. Here our men 
thinking themselves secure, were more care- 
less in keeping order; and whilst their offi- 
cers were getting them out of houses where 
they for drink, it being an extreme hot day, 
the enemy got another way as soon as we 
into the moor; and we had almost passed 
this plain also, they seeing us in some dis- 
order, charged us both in flank and rear : 
The country- men presently cast down their 
arms and fled ; the foot soon after, which for 
want of pikes were not able to withstand 
their horse: Some were slain, many were 
taken prisoners; few of our horse stood the 
charge. Some officers with me, made our 
retreat with much difficulty; in which Sir 
Henry Fowlis had a slight hurt; my Cornet 
was taken prisoner. We got well to Leeds, 
about an hour after my father, and the men 
with him got safe thither. 

This was one of the greatest losses wc ever 
received. Yet was it a providence it was a 
part, and not the whole forces which received 
this loss; it being the enemy's intention to 
have fought us that day with their whole 
army, which was at least ten thousand men, 
had not our attempt upon Tadcaster put a 
stand to them ; and so concluded that day 
with this storm, which fell on mc only. 

Wc being at Leeds, it was thought fit to 
possess some other place ; wherefore I was 
sent to Bradford with seven or eight hundred 
foot, and three troops of horse. Thtse two 
towns were all the garrisons we had ; and at 
Wakefield, six miles off, lay three thousand 
of the enemy; but they did not much dis- 
turb us : And we were busied about releasing 
prisoners that Trie tak^n ai Seacroft, most 



of them being countrymen, whose wives and 
children were still importunate for their re- 
lease, which was as earnestly endeavoured by 
us, but no conditions would be accepted ; so 
as their continual cries and tears, and im- 
portunities, compelled us to think of ynme 
way to redeem these men; and we thought 
of attempting Wakefield. 

Our intelligence was, that the enemy had 
not above eight or nine hundred men in the 
town; I acquainted my father with our 
design, who approved of it, and sent some 
men from Leeds, so that we were able to 
draw out eleven hundred horse and foot. 

Upon Whitsunday, early in the morning, 
we came before the town, but they had notice 
of our coming, and had manned all their 
works, and set about five hundred muske- 
teers to line the hedges without the town, 
which made us now doubt our intelligence, 
but it was too late. 

After a little consultation we advanced, 
and soon beat them back into the town, 
which we stormed at three places ; and after 
an hour's dispute, the foot forced open a bar- 
ricado, where I entered with my own troop, 
Colonel Alured and Captain Bright followed 
with theirs : The street where we entered 
was full of their foot ; we charged them 
through, and routed them, leaving them to 
the foot that followed close behind us : And 
presently we were charged again with horse 
led on by General Goring ; where, after a hot 
encounter, some were slain, and himself 
taken prisoner by Colonel Alured. 

T cannot but here acknowledge God's 
goodness to me this day; for being advanced 
a good way single before my men, having a 
Colonel, and Lieutenant Colonel, who had 
engaged themselves to be my prisoners, only 
with me, and many of the enemy now be- 
twixt me and my men, I lighted upon a 
regiment of foot standing in the market- 
place ; being thus encompassed, and thinking 
what to do, I spied a lane which 1 thought 
would lead me back to my men again: At 
the end of this lane there was a Corps-dc- 
guard of the enemy's, with fifteen or sixteen 
soldiers, who were just then quitting it, with 
a Serjeant leading off; whom we met, and 
seeing their officers, they came up to us, 
taking no notice of me, and asked them what 
they would have them do, for they could 
keep the work no longer, the Roundheads 
(as they called them) came so fast upon 
them. 

The gentlemen who had passed their 
words to me to be my true prisoners, said 
nothing; and looking one upon another, I 
thought it not fit now to own them as prison- 
ers, much loss to bid the rest to return 

67 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



themselves to me ; but, being well mounted, 
and seeing a place in the works where men 
used to go over, I rushed from them, and 
made my horse leap over the work, and by a 
good providence got to my men again, who 
before I came had, by direction of Major 
General Gilford, brought up a piece of ord- 
nance, and placed it in the church-yard, 
against that body that stood in the market 
place, wnich presently surrendered them- 
selves. 

All our men being got into the town, 
the streets were cleared, and many prison- 
ers taken ; but the horse got off almost 
entire. 

This appeared the greater mercy, when 
we saw our mistake ; for we found three 
thousand men in the town, and expected 
but half the number. We brought away 
fourteen hundred prisoners, eighty officers, 
twenty-eight colours, and great store of 
ammunition. 

But seeing this was more a miracle, 
than a victory; more the effect of God's 
providence, than human force, or pru- 
dence, let the honour and praise of all be 
his only. 

After this, we exchanged our men that 
were prisoners, and we were freed a good 
while from any trouble or attempt of the 
enemy. 

Hitherto, through God's mercy, we had 
held up near two years against a potent 
army; but they finding us now almost tired 
with continual service, treacherously used 
by friends, and wanting many things neces- 
sary for support and defence, the Earl of 
'Newcastle marched with an army of ten or 
twelve thousand men to besiege us, and 
resolved to sit down before Bradford, which 
was a wry untenable place. 

Hither my father drew all the forces he 
could spare out of the garrisons ; but seeing 
n impossible to defend the town otherwise 
than by strength of men, and that we had 
not above ten or twelve days provision for 
so many as were necessary to keep it; we 
resolved the next morning \cry early, with 
a body of three thousand men to attempt his 
whole army, as they lay in their quarters 
three miles off. Hoping by it to put him to 
"me distraction, which could not be done 
any other way, by reason of the unequal 
numbers. 

To this end my father appointed four of 
the clock next morning to begin our maich ; 
but Major General Gilford, who had the 
ordering of the business, so delayed the exe- 
cution of it, that it was seven or eight befoie 
we began to move, and not without much 
suspicion of treachery ; for when we came 



near the place we intended, the enemy's 
whole army was drawn up in battalia. 

We were to go up a hill to them ; That 
our forlorn hope gained by beating theirs 
into their main body, which was drawn up 
half a mile further, upon a plain called 
Adderton-moor. We being all got up the 
hill, drew into battalia also. I commanded 
the right wing, which was about one thou- 
sand foot, and five troops of horse. Major 
General Gifford commanded the left wing 
which was about the same number. My 
father commanded in chief. 

We advanced through the inclosed 
grounds, till we came to the moor, beat- 
ing the foot, that lay in them, to their 
main body. 

Ten or twelve troops of horse charged us 
in the right wing ; we kept the inclosures, 
placing our musketeers in the hedges next 
the moor; which was a good advantage to 
us who had so few horse. 

There was a gate, or open place, to the 
moor, where five or six might enter a-breast. 
Here they strive to enter, we to defend it ; 
but after some dispute, those that entered 
the pass, found sharp entertainment; and 
those who were not yet entered, as hot wel- 
come from the musketeers that ilanked them 
in the hedges. They were all, in the end, 
forced to retreat, with the loss of Colonel 
Howard, who commanded them. 

Our left wing, at the same time was en- 
gaged with the enemy's foot, aud had gained 
ground of them. The horse came down 
again, and charged us, they being about 
thirteen or fourteen troops. We defended 
ourselves as before, but with more difficulty; 
many having got in among us, but were 
beaten off with some loss. Colonel Heme, 
who commanded that party, was slain. We 
pursued them to their cannon. Here 1 can- 
not omit a remarkable instance of Divine 
justice. Whilst we were engaged in the fight 
with those horse that entered the gate, four 
soldiers had stript Colonel Heme naked as 
he lay on the giound, men still lighting round 
about him ; and so dexterous were these vil- 
lains, that they had done it, and mounted 
themselves again, befoie we had beaten tiie 
enemy off. Hut after we had beaten them to 
their ordnance, a* 1 said, and now returning 
to our giound again, the enemy discharged a 
piece of cannon in our rear, the bullet fell 
into Captain Copley's troop, in which wen 
these four men; two of them were killed, 
and some hurt or mark remained on the 
other, though dispersed into seveial ranks of 
the troop, which made it more remarkable. 
We had not yet martial law among us; this 
gave me a good occasion to declare to the 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



soldiers how God would punish, when men 
wanted power to do it. 

This charge, and the resolution our men 
shewed in the left wing, made the enemy 
think of retreating. Orders were given for 
it, and some marched off the field. 

Whilst they were in this wavering condi- 
tion, one Colonel Skirton desired his General 
to let him charge once with a stand of pikes, 
with which he broke in upon our men, and 
not being relieved by our reserves, which 
were commanded by some ill-affected offi- 
cers, chiefly Major Gifford, who did not his 
part as he ought to do, our men lost ground, 
which the enemy seeing, pursued this advan- 
tage, by bringing on fresh troops; ours being 
herewith discouraged, began to fly, and were 
soon routed The horse also charged us 
again We not knowing what was done in 
the left wing: Our men maintained their 
ground, till a command came for us to > etreat, 
having scarce any way now to do it, the 
enemy being almost round about us, and our 
way to Bradford cut off. But there was a 
lane in the field we were in, which led to 
Halifax, which as a happy providence, 
brought us off, without any great loss, save 
ot Captain Talbot, and twelve more that 
were slain in this last encounter. Of those 
who fled, there were about sixty killed, and 
three hundred taken prisoners. 

After this ill success, we had small hopes 
of better, wanting all things necessary in 
Bradford for defence of the town, and no 
expectation of help from any place. The 
Earl of Newcastle presently besieged the 
town; but before he had surrounded it, I 
got in with those men I brought from Hali- 
fax. I found my father much troubled, 
having neither a place of strength to defend 
ourselves in, nor a garrison in Yorkshire to 
retreat to; for the governor of Hull had 
declared if we were forced to retreat thither 
he would shut the gates on us. 

Whilst be was musing on these sad 
thoughts, a messenger was sent unto him 
from Hull, to let him know the townsmen 
had secured the governor; that they were 
sensible of the danger he was in, and if he 
had any occasion to make use of that place, 
he should be very readily and dadly received 
there. Which news was joyfully received, 
and acknowledged as a great mercy of God, 
yet it was not made use of till a further ne- 
cessity compelled. 

My father having ordered me to stay 
here with eight hundred foot, and sixty 
horse, retired that night to Leeds to se- 
cure it. 

The Earl of Newcastle spent three or four 
days in laying his quarters about the town of 



Bradford, and brought down his cannon, but 
needed not to raise batteries, for the hills 
within half mu'ket shot commanded all the 
town. Being planted in two places they 
shot furiously upon us, and made their ap- 
proaches, which made us spend very much 
of our little store, being not above twenty- 
five or twenty-six barrels of powder, at the 
beginning of the siege. Yet the Earl of 
Newcastle sent a trumpet to offer us 
conditions, which I accepted, so they were 
honourable for us to take, and safe for the 
inhabitants. 

We sent two Captains to treat with him, 
and agreed to a cessation during that time ; 
but he continued working still ; whereupon 
I sent forth the Commissioners again, sus- 
pecting a design of attempting something 
upon ue. They returned not till eleven 
o'clock at night, and then with a slight 
answer. 

Whilst they were delivering it to us, we 
heard great shooting of cannon and muskets; 
all run presently to the works which the 
enemy was storming. Here for three- 
quarters of an hour was very hot service, but 
at length they retreated. 

They made a second attempt, but were 
also beaten off; after this, we had not above 
one barrel of powder left, and no match : 1 
called the officers together, where it was 
advised and resolved to draw off presently, 
before it was day, and to retreat to Leeds, 
by forcing a way, which we must do, for 
they had surrounded the town. 

Orders were dispatched, and speedily put 
in execution. The foot commanded by 
Colonel Rogers, was sent out, through some 
narrow lanes, and they were to beat up 
the Dragoons quarters, and so go on to 
Leeds 

I myself with some other officers went 
with the horse, which were not above fifty, 
in a more open way. 

I must not here forget my wife, who ran 
the same hazard with us in this retreat and 
with as little expression of fear ; not from 
any zeal, or delight in the war, but through 
a willing and patient suffering of this unde- , 
sirable condition. 

I sent two or three horsemen before, to 
discover what they could of the enemy ; who 
presently returned, and told us there was a 
body of horse close by us. Before I had 
gone forty paces, the day beginning to break, 
1 saw them upon the hill above us, being 
about 300 horse. I, with some 12 more, 
charged them, Sir Henry Fowles, Major 
General Gifford, myself and three more 
brake through ; Captain Mudd was slain, 
and the rest of our horse being close by, 

69 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



the enemy fell upon them, and soon rout- 
ed them, taking most of them prisoners, 
among whom was my wife, the officer 
William Hill, behind whom she rid, being 
taken. 

I saw this disaster, but could give no 
relief; for after I got through, I was in the 
enemy's rear alone ; those who had charged 
through with me, went on to Leeds, thinking 
1 had done so too : But I was unwilling to 
leave my company, and stayed till I saw 
there was no more in my power to do, but 
to be taken prisoner with them. I then 
retired to Leeds. 

The like disaster fell among the foot, that 
went the other way, by a mistake, for after 
they had marched a little way, the van fell 
into the dragoons quarters, clearing their 
way ; but through a cowardly fear, he that 
commanded these men, being in the rear, 
made them face about, and march again into 
the town, where the next day they were all 
taken prisoners, only eighty or thereabout 
of the front that got through, came all to 
Leeds, mounted on horses which they had 
taken from the enemy, where I found them 
when I came thither, which was some joy to 
them all, concluding I was either slain or 
taken prisoner. 

At Leeds I found all in great distraction, 
the Council of War newly risen, where it 
was resolved to quit the town, and retreat to 
Hull, which was sixty miles off, many of the 
enemy's garrisons being in the way. This, 
in two hours after, was accordingly done, 
lest the enemy should presently send horse 
to prevent us; for they had fifty or sixty 
troops within three miles. But we got well 
to Selby, where there was a ferry, and hard 
by a garrison at Cawood. 

My father being a mile before, with a few 
men, getting over the ferry, word came to 
us that he was in danger to be taken. I 
hasted to him with about forty horse, the 
rest following in some disorder. He was 
newly got into the boat, when the enemy 
with three Cornets of Horse entered the 
town, 

I was drawn up in the market-place, 
directly before the street they came down; 
when they were almost half come into the 
market-place, they turned on the right 
hand; with part of my troop I charged 
them in the flank, and divided them ; we 
had the chase of them down the long street 
that goes to Brayton. 

It happened at the same time that those 
men left behind were coming up that street, 
but being in disorder, and discouraged with 
the misfortunes of so many days before, 
they turned about and gave way, not 



knowing we were pursuing the enemy in 
their rear. 

At the end of this street was a narrow 
lane which led to Cawood. The enemy 
strove to pass that way, but it being narrow 
there was a sudden stop, where we were 
mingled one among another. 

Here I received a shot in the wrist of my 
arm, which made the bridle fall out of my 
hand, and heing among the nerves and 
veins, suddenly let out such a quantity of 
blood, that I was ready to fall from my 
horse : But taking the reins in the other 
hand in which I had my sword, the enemy 
minding nothing so much as how to get 
away, I drew myself out of the crowd, and 
came to our men. who turned about, and 
seeing me ready to fall from my horse, they 
laid me on the ground; now when I was 
almost senseless, my surgeon came season- 
ably, and bound up the wound, and stopt 
the bleeding. 

After a quarter of an hour's rest, I got 
upon horse- back again; the other part 
of our horse had beaten the enemy back 
to Cawood, the same way they came first 
to us. 

Thus by the goodness of God, our passage 
was made clear ; some went over the ferry 
after my father, I myself with others went 
through the levels to Hull, but it proved a 
very troublesome and dangerous passage, 
being often interrupted by the enemy, 
sometimes in our front, sometimes in our 
rear. 

I had been twenty hours on horse-back, 
after I was shot, without any rest or re- 
freshment, and as many hours before. And 
as a further affliction, my daughter, not 
above five years old, being carried before 
her maid, endured all this retreat on horse- 
bock ; but nature not being able to hold 
out any longer, she fell into frequent swoon- 
ings, and in appearance was ready to expire 
her last. 

Having now past the Trent, and seeing 
a house not far off, I sent her with her maid 
only thither, with little hopes of seeing 
her any more alive, though I intended 
the next day to send a ship from Hull 
for her. 

I went on to Barton, having sent before 
to have a ship ready against my coming 
thither. Here I lay down to take a little 
rest, if it were possible to find any in a body 
so full of pain, and a mind yet fuller of 
anxiety and trouble. Though I must ac- 
knowledge it as the infinite goodness of God 
that my spirit was nothing at all discouraged 
from doing still that which I thought to be 
my duty. 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



I had not rested a quarter of an hour, 
before the enemy came close to the town. 
I had now not above a hundred horse with 
me, we went to the ship, where under the 
security of her ordnance, we got all our 
men and horse aboard ; and crossing H um- 
ber, we arrived at Hull, our men faint and 
tired. I myself had lost all, even to my 
shirt, for my clothes were made unfit to 
wear with rents and blood. Presently after 
my coming to Hull, I sent a ship for my 
daughter, who was brought the next day to 
the town, pretty well recovered of her long 
and tedious journey. 

Not many days after the Earl of New- 
castle sent my wife back again in his coach, 
with some horse to guard her ; which gener- 
ous act of his gained him more reputation, 
than he could have got by detaining a lady 
prisoner, upon such terms. 

Many of our men, who were dispersed 
in this long retreat, came hither again to 
us. Our first business was to raise new 
forces, and in a short time we had about 
1500 foot, and 700 horse. 

The town being little, I was sent to Be- 
verley, with the horse, and 600 foot, but my 
Lord of Newcastle now looking upon as in- 
considerable, was marched into Lincolnshire, 
with his whole army, leaving some few gar- 
risons. He took in Gainsbrough, and Lin- 
coln, and intended Boston, which was the 
key of the associated counties ; for his 
orders, which I have seen, were to go into 
Essex, and block up London on that side. 

Having laid a great while still, and being 
now strong enough for those forces which 
remained in the country, we sent out a good 
party to make an attempt upon Stanford - 
Bridge, near York, but the enemy upon the 
alarm fled thither, which put them also in 
such a fear, that they sent earnestly to my 
Lord of Newcastle to desire hiin to return, 
or the country would again be lost. Upon 
tliis he returned again into Yorkshire, and 
not long after came to besiege Hull. 

I lay at Beverley in the way of his march, 
and finding we were not able to defend such 
an open place against an army, I desired 
orders from my father to retire back to Hull ; 
but the committee there had more mind of 
raising money, than to take care of the sol- 
diers; and yet these men had the greatest 
share in command at this time, and would 
not let any orders be given for our retreat ; 
nor was it fit for us to return without order. 

The enemy marched with his whole army 
towards us: retreat we must not; keep the 
town we could not. So, to make our retreat 
more honourable and useful, I drew out all 
the horse and dragoons towards the enemy •, 



and stood drawn up by a wood side all that 
night. 

Next morning by day, our scouts and 
theirs fired on one another. They marched 
on with their whole body, which was about 
4000 horse, and 12000 foot. We stood till 
they were come very near to us. I then 
drew off, having given direction before for 
the foot to march away towards Hull, and 
thinking to make good the retreat with the 
horse. 

The enemy with a good party came up in 
our rear ; the lanes being narrow we made 
good shift with them, till we got into Bever- 
ley, and shut the gate, which we had scarce 
time to do, they being so close to us. 

In this business we lost Major Layton, 
and not above two more. 

The enemy not knowing what forces we 
had in the town, stay'd till the rest of the 
army came up, which was about a mile be- 
hind. This gave our foot some advantage in 
their retreat, it being five miles to Hull, and 
the way on narrow banks. I sent the horse 
by Cottingham, a more open road, who got 
well thither; they overtook the foot, and 
made good their retreat, till we got to a li ttle 
bridge two miles from Hull, where we m ade 
a stand : the enemy followed close : ourmen 
gave them a good volley of shot, which made 
them draw back, and they advanced no 
further. 

So leaving a small guard at the bridge, we 
got safe to Hull. 

Thus not only for want of military skill 
in the gentlemen of the committee, but to 
say no more, for want of good nature, we 
were expos'd to this trouble and danger. 

My Lord of Newcastle now laid siege to 
Hull, but at a great distance, for the sluices 
were let open and drowned the land for two 
miles about the town. 

Yet upon a bank, which was the highway, 
he approached so near as to shoot cannon 
shot at random into the town, and for the 
most part hot bullets, but by the diligence 
and care of the governor, who caused every 
inhabitant to watch his own house, the 
danger was prevented. 

Our horse was now useless, and many died 
every day, having nothing but salt water 
about the town. I was therefore sent over 
with the horse into Lincolnshire to join with 
the Earl of Manchester's forces, which were 
then commanded by Major General Crom- 
well, who received us at our landing with 
his troops. 

Sir John Henderson lay within three or 
four miles of this place, with 5()00 men, to 
prevent our conjunction, but <lurst not at- 
tempt it. He marched three or four days 

71 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



near unto us, but for want of good intelli- 
gence, we did not know so much. For I 
altogether trusted to the care of our new 
friends, being a stranger in those parts. 

At Horncastle one morning he fell upon 
our out-guards, who being but newly raised 
in that country, Hed towards Lincoln, with- 
out giving any alarm to our quarters, that 
lay dispersed and secure. 

Sir John Henderson marching slowly with 
his army, gave the alarm to some of our out 
quarters, which was soon taken in all the 
rest. Yet we were in some disorder before 
we could get into any considerable body. 
My Lord Willoughby with his horse, and 
my dragoons, commanded by Colonel Mor- 
gan, brought up the rear, and after some 
skirmishes, we lodged that night in the field. 
The next day the Earl of Manchester 
came to us with his foot, the day following 
we advanced toward the enemy, and cliusing 
a convenient ground to fight on, we drew up 
the army there. The enemy did so on the 
side of another hill close by, having a little 
plain betwixt us. Lieutenant General Crom- 
well had the van, I the reserve of horse, my 
Lord Manchester all the foot. 

After we had faced one another a good 
while, the Forlorn Hopes began the fight, 
presently the bodies met on the plain, where 
the fight was hot for half an hour, but then 
they were forced to a rout, 200 kilPd, and 
many taken prisoners. 

This was the issue of Horncastle fight, or 
as some call it, Winsby fight. 

At the same instant we heard great shoot- 
ing of ordnance towards Full, which was a 
sally my father made out of the town upon 
my Lord of Newcastle's trenches, who drew 
out most part oi his army to relieve them : 
hut our men charged them so resolutely, 
that they possessed themselves of the cannon, 
and pureuing their advantage, put the enemy 
to a tolal rout, upon which he raised the 
siege, and returned again to York. 

These two defeats together, the one falling 
upon the horse, the other upon the foot, kept 
the enemy all that winter from attempting 
any thing; and we, after the taking of Lin- 
coln, settled ourselves in winter quarters. 

Permit me now to make a small digression, 
in describing the wonderful display oi provi- 
dence about this time, in the taking of 
Crowland by the men of Spalding, which 
was as follows: One Captain Welbie, with 
his adherents and some commanders, in open 
hostility against the Parliament, fortified the 
said town of Crowland with breast-works 
and trenches very strongly ; which being 
effected, Welbie and his company came in 
the night to Spalding, (which at that time 
72 



was utterly unfurnished with men and arms) 
and about break of day beset the house of 
one Mr. Ram, minister of that town, where 
they also took Mr. .lohn Harrington, Mr 
Horn, and Mr. Slater, a gentleman of above 
sixty years of age, carried them to Crowland 
and imprisoned them there. After they had 
continued three weeks in close confinement, 
the inhabitants of Spalding assembled them- 
selves into a pretty competent strength, and 
so advanced to Crowland to relieve and re- 
deem the said gentlemen out of their harsh 
confinement, whereupon, about eight of the 
Clock the first night, all these prisoners were 
carried down to the bulwark upon the north- 
side of the town, but their friends forces not 
falling on, they were carried to prison again. 
But as soon as the Spalding forces approached 
near the town, they were all brought forth 
again and carried to that part of the town 
where the first onset was given, being all of 
them fast pinioned, and forced to stand in an 
open place where the cannon might, and did 
play most furiously upon them. 

Shortly after this all these gentlemen were 
set upon the top of the breastworks, where 
they stood at least three hours, their dear 
and faithful friends, that came to relieve 
them, shooting fiercely at them a great 
part of all that day before they knew 
who they were; yea, Captain Harrington 
took one of his soldiers muskets, charging it 
with pistol shot, and himself made three 
shoots at his own father, not knowing who he 
was, all the rest ot Spalding forces on that 
side (supposing they had been Crowlanders, 
and that they stood there to out-brave them) 
shot at them very angrily, 'till at last per- 
ceiving who they were, quickly left firing on 
them, and began to play more to the right 
hand, whither presently Mr. Ram and Mr. 
Morn were by the Crowlanders removed; 
which also their friends again discerning, 
they held their hands and rbrebore to shoot, 
so that little was done on that side of the 
town that day; but as the fury of the fight 
abated in those parts, so it increased on the 
north-side, whither presently Mr. Ran and 
Mr. Horn were posted, and there aNo set 
upon the bulwarks for the Spalding forces to 
play upon them with their shot, who indeed 
plied very fiercely with cannon and musket 
for a great while together, supposing .'hat 
Mr. Ram had been the priest of the town 
(one Mr. Styles, a special personal actor in 
these matters) to their great grief and many 
of their dear friends (as they acknowledged 
afterwards when the town was taken) shot 
many times, and very vehemently, against 
their beloved friends, and at their pious 
minister, and Mr. Horn who stood by him : 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



But, wonderful to think, providential mercy 
was so apparent in the preservation of these 
men's lives, and guided all the bullets still, 
that all the multitude of shots which con- 
tinually flew about their ears, and many 
within half musket shot of them, yet not 
one bullet, small or great, had power to hurt 
any of them. 

But to go on, when these gentlemen had 
continued thus three hours or more on the 
north-side of the works, Spalding forces be- 
gan to retreat there also, and then the gen- 
tlemen were taken down and guarded to their 
prison, together with Mr. Harrington and 
the other two prisoners, who had continued 
all that while on the west works. 

But the forces on the north-side beginning 
again to fire on the Crowlanders, they were 
carried back again and set on the works as 
aforesaid, whereupon Spalding forces honestly 
retreated on both sides. 

Not long after Spalding forces assaulted 
the town again in three different places at 
once, who all being come near the town, the 
Rev'd Mr, Ram was again called for, and 
brought out of his lodging, and carried with 
all speed to the north bulwark, and there, 
being straitly pinioned, was most inhumanly 
laid within the works on the wet ground, 
where he laid five hours, often entreat- 
ing to be set upon the bulwark, by reason of 
the extreme numbness of his limbs, and 
extraordinary weariness with lying in that 
posture and condition, but they would not 
suffer it. 

Jn brief, within two or three days the town 
was taken, but some of the chief actors of 
the fore-mentioned villanies got away, divers 
were taken in the town and clapt into prison 
at Colchester, Ipswich, and other places. 
Thus much I have particularly related of the 
taking of this town, and the wonderful pre- 
servation of these gentlemen's lives. 

In the coldest season of the year I was 
commanded by the Parliament to go and 
raise the siege at Namptwich, which the 
Lord Byron, with the Irish Army, had 
reduced to great extremity. I was the most 
unfit of all their forces, being ever the worst 
paid, my men sickly and almost naked ; I 
desired the Parliament that they would be 
pleased to supply these wants, not excusing 
myself, as some did, who had no will to stir, 
though well enough accommodated. 

The Parliament's answer was a positive 
direction to march, for it would admit of no 
delay. But foreseeing I should have such a 
return to my desires, and considering the 
necessity of the business, I had upon my 
own credit got so much cloth as cloathed 



1500 men. and all were ready to march 
when these orders came to me. 

The twenty-ninth of December we set for- 
ward from Falkingham in Lincolnshire with 
1800 horse, and 500 dragoons, and power to 
call the regiments of foot in Lancashire and 
Cheshire, to make up the body of the army, 
which I found was not a little trouble when 
I came to Manchester, for some were thirty 
some forty miles distant, besides the dissatis- 
faction of some of their Colonels, went as 
their particular safety or interest swayed 
them. 

But finding more readiness in the inferior 
officers, and common soldiers, I got un in a 
few days near 3000 foot. 

With this army we marched to Nampt- 
wich, which was at the point of surrendering. 
When we came within a day's march. I had 
intelligence the Lord Byron had drawn off 
his siege, and intended to meet us in the 
field. I put my men into the order in 
which I intended to fight, and continued my 
march till we came within three miles of 
the town. 

There was a pass kept with about 250 
men; I sent Colonel Morgan with his 
dragoons, who beat them off', in which his 
brother was slain. The Major, who com- 
manded the other party, with some others, 
was taken prisoner. 

We marched on till we came within 
cannon shot of their works, where half of 
their army was drawn up. And we were 
inform'd, that the river which runs through 
the town, being raised with the melting of 
the snow, hinder'd those that lay on the 
other side of the town from joining with 
them. 

We call'd a council of war, wherein it 
was debated, whether we should attempt 
those in their works, being divided from the 
rest of the army, or march into the town 
and relieve them, and by the increase of our 
force be better able the next day to en- 
counter them. 

This last was resolv'd on, and making 
way with pioneers through the hedges, we 
marched to the town ; but after we had gone 
a little way word came that the enemy was 
in the rear. We faced about with two regi- 
ments, and my own regiment of horse, com- 
manded by Major Rokeby, and reliev'd those 
that were engaged, and so the fight began on 
all sides. 

These that fell on our rear, were that part 
of their army that lay on the other side of 
the town, who had past the river. Those 
who were drawn up under their works, fell 
upon our van, which was marching to the 
town. Thus was the battle divided, there 

73 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



being ;i quarter of a mile betwixt us and the 
division that first engag'd. Our foot at the 
beginning gave a little ground, but our horse 
recovered this, by beating the enemies horse 
out of the lanes that flanked our foot, which 
did so encourage our men, that they regain'd 
their ground on the enemy, and made them 
retreat from hedge to hedge, 'till at length 
they were forced to fly to their works. 

Their horse retreated in better order, to- 
wards Chester, without much loss. Our 
other wing being assisted from the town, 
who sally'd out with seven or eight hundred 
musketeers, beat the enemy back into the 
same works. We presently surrounded 
them, and being in great disorder and con- 
fusion, they soon yielded themselves prison- 
ers, with all their chief officers, arms, colours 
and ammunition. 

Thus, by the mercy of God, was this 
victory obtain'd, being the more signal, in 
that we were not to deal with young soldiers, 
but with men of great experience, and an 
army which had ever been victorious. 

After this we took in several garrisons in 
Cheshire; Latham only in Lancashire held 
out, which was besieg'd by the forces of that 
county, but afterward the siege was rais'd by 
Prince Rupert. 

Having spent three or four months in this 
expedition, my father commanded me back 
into Yorkshire, that by the conjunction of 
our forces, he might be abler to take the 
field. We met about Ferrybridge, he being 
come out of Hull thither, with intent to fall 
upon the enemy's garrison at Selby. 

I receiv'd at this time another command 
from the Parliament to march immediately 
with my horse and dragoons into Northum- 
berland, to join with the Scots army. The 
Earl of Newcastle, who was then at Durham, 
being much stronger in horse than they, for 
want of which they could not advance : But 
it being resolved within a day or two to 
storm Selby, I stay'd till that business was 
over, which proved as effectual for the relief 
of the Scots army. 

The Governor of York, Col. Bcllasis, lay 
in Selby with 2000 men. We drew our 
horse and foot close to the town, Sir John 
Meldrum led on the foot, which had their 
several posts appointed them, where they 
should storm. I with the horse ready to 
second them. The enemy within defended 
themselves stoutly a good while. Our men 
at length beat them from the line, but could 
not advance further because of the horse 
within. I got a barricado open, which let 
us in betwixt the houses and the river; here 
we had an encounter with their horse: After 
one charge, they fled over a bridge of boats 
74 



to York ; their horse came up and charged 
us again, where my horse was overthrown, I 
being single a little before my men, who 
present^ reliev'd me, and forced the enemy 
back. They retreated also to York. In 
this charge we took Col. Bellasis, Governor 
of York. By this time the foot had entered 
the town, and taken many prisoners. This 
good success of ours put them in great dis- 
traction and fear at York ; so that they 
speedily sent to the Earl of Newcastle to 
haste back thither, believing we would 
presently attempt them. 

This news suddenly called him backi 
leaving the Scots, who with cold, and 
often alarms, were reduced to great ex- 
tremity, but now they advance after him. 
The Earl of Newcastle gets into York ; 
the Scots join with my father at Wether- 
by, altogether made 16,000 foot, and 4000 
horse. They march on to York. 

For the siege of York it was thought 
necessary to have more men, the town 
being large in compass, and strongly man- 
ned. 

The Earl of Crawford, Lindsey, and my 
self were sent to the Earl of Manchester, to 
desire him to join with us in the siege, to 
which he willingly consented, bringing an 
addition of 6000 foot, and 3000 horse. 

Now the army had three Generals, Lesly, 
Manchester and Fairfax, who lay apart in 
three several quarters before the town, but 
the North side still remained open. 

Some time was spent here without any 
considerable action, till in my Lord of Man- 
chester's quarters, approaches were made to 
St. Mary's tower, and they soon came to 
mine it. 

Colonel Crawford, a Scotchman, who com- 
manded that quarter, sprung the mine, being 
ambitions to have the honour alone of it, 
without acquainting the other two Generals, 
for their advice, and concurrence, which 
proved very prejudicial, for having engaged 
his party against the whole strength of the 
town, without more forces to second him, he 
was repulsed with the loss of three hundred 
men ; for which he had surely been called to 
an account, but escaped the better by reason 
of this triumviral government. 

Soon after Prince Rupert came to relieve 
the town. We raised the siege. Hessey- 
Moor was appointed the rendezvous, and the 
Whole army drew thither. 

About a mile from thence lay the Prince, 
the river Ouse being betwixt us, which he 
that night past over at Poppleton. The 
next day he drew his tatty into the same 
moor, which being now joined with my Lord 



MEMOIRS OF GENERAL FAIRFAX. 



of Newcastle's army, made about 23 or 
24,000 men ; we something more. 

We were divided in our opinions what to 
do. The English were for fighting; the 
Scots for retreating, to gain (as they alleged) 
both time and place of more advantage. 

This being resolv'd on, we marched away 
to Tadcaster, which made the enemy advance 
the faster. 

Lieutenant General Cromwell, Lesley, 
and myself were appointed to bring up the 
rear. We sent word to the Generals of the 
necessity of making a stand, or else the 
enemy, having this advantage, might put us 
in some disorder. But by the advantage of 
the ground we were on, we hoped to make it 
stood 'till they came back to us, which they 
did. 

The place was Marston fields, which after- 
wards gave the name to this battle. 

Here we drew up our army. The enemy 
was drawn up in battalia on the moor a little 
below us. 

The day being most part spent in prepar- 
ations, we now began to descend towards 
them. Lieutenant General Cromwell com- 
manded the left wing of the horse, and 
seconded by Major General Lesly; I had 
the right wing, with some Scots horse, and 
lances for my reserves. The three Generals 
were with the foot. 

Our left wing first charged the enemy's 
right wing, which was performed for a while 
with much resolution on both sides, but the 
enemy at length was put to the worst. 

Our right wing had not all so good success, 
by reason of the furzes and ditches we were 
to pass over before we could get to the 
enemy, which put us into great disorder. 

Notwithstanding I drew up a body of 
400 horse. But because their intervals of 
horse in this wing only, were lined with 
musketeers, who did as much hurt with their 
shot, I was necessitated to charge them 

We were a long time engaged one within 
another ; but at last we routed that part of 
their wing we charged, and pursued them a 
good way towards York. Myself only re- 
turned presently, to get to the men I left 
behind me. But that part of the enemy 
which stood, perceiving the disorder they 
were in, had charged and routed them before 
I could get to them : So that the good suc- 
cess we had at first was eclipsed by this bad 
conclusion. 

Our other wing and most of the foot went 
on prosperously, 'till they had cleared the 
field. 

I must ever remember with thankfulness 
the goodness of God to me this day; for 
having charged through the enemy, and my 



men going after the pursuit, and returning 

back to go to my other troops, I was got in 

among the enemy, who stood up and down 

the field in several bodies of horse, so taking 

the signal out of my hat, I past through 

them for one of their own commanders, and 

cot to my Lord of Manchester's horse, in 

the other wing; only with a cut in my 

cheek, which was given me in the first 

charge, and a shot which my horse received. 

In this charge many of my officers and 

soldiers were hurt and slain : The Captain 

of my own troop was shoi in the arm, my 

Cornet had both his hands cut, so as rendcr'd 

him ever after unserviceable. Captain 

Micklcthwait, an honest stout gentleman, 

was slain: And scarce any officer who was 

in this charge but receiv'd a hurt. Col. 

Lambert, who should have seconded me, but 

could not get up to me, charged in another 

place. Major Fairfax, who was Major to 

his regiment, had at least thirty wounds, of 

which he died at York, after he had been 

abroad again, and in good hopes of recovery. 

But that which nearest of all concern'd me, 

was the loss of my brother Charles Fairfax, 

who being deserted of his men, was sore 

wounded, of which in three or four days 

after he dyed. Buried at Marston. JEUt. 23. 

In this charge as many were hurt and 

kill'd as in the whole army besides. 

On the enemy's part there were above 
4000 slain, and many taken prisoners, 

Prince Rupert returned into the South, 
the Earl of Newcastle went beyond sea, 
with many of his officers. York was pres- 
ently surrendered, and the North now was 
wholly reduced by the Parliament's forces, 
except some garrisons. 

Soon after this I went to Helmesley, to 
take in the castle there, where I received a 
dangerous shot in my shoulder, and was 
brought back to York, all being doubtful of 
my recovery for some time. 

At the same time the Parliament voted 
me to command the army in the South. 

But my intentions being only to keep in 
mind what I had been present in during this 
Northern war, I shall put an end to this dis- 
course, where it pleas'd God to determine 
my service there. 

Yet thus with some smart from his rod, to 
let me see I was not mindful enough of re- 
turning my humble thanks and acknowledge- 
ments for the deliverances and mercies I 
received ; and for which (alas) I am not yet 
capable enough to praise him as I ought, 
that I may say by experience, Who is a God 
like unto our God. 

Therefore, not unto us, O Lord, not unto 
us, but unto thy name give we the praise. 

75 



NOTE.— THE FAIRFAXES. 



But as for my self, and what I have done, 
I say with Solomon, " I looked on all the 
works that my hands had wrought, and on 
the labour that 1 had laboured to do, and 
behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit. 

For there is no remembrance of the wise 
more than the fool for ever, seeing that 
which now is, in the days to come shall be 
forgotten." 



NOTE TO THE FOREGOING. 

After the Restoration, Thomas, Lord Fair- 
fax, retir d to his bouse at Nun Appleton, 
near Tadeaster, where he spent the rem;iin 
der of his life. Having been instrumental 
in the bringing back of Charles II, he being 
one of the deputies sent by the Parliament 
to Charles, then at the Hague, in Holland ; 
he was of course at peace with the reigning 
family. He now wrote an account of his 
actions in the Northern War, from its 
breaking out in 1642 to 1644, the truth- 
fulness of which cannot be disputed. These 
are the "Memoirs" here re-printed. He 
died of fever, after a short illness, at Nun 
Appleton, November 12th, 1671, and was 
buried at Bilbrough, where there is a mon- 
umeiit to his memory, with the following 
inscription : — 

"Here Lye The Bodies of 

The Right Honourable Thomas Lord 

Fairfax, 

Of Denton, Baron Camerone : 

Who Died November 12th, 1671, In 

The Sixtieth Year of His Age: 

And Of 

Ann His Wife, 

Daughter And Co -Heir of Horatio, 

Lord Vere, Baron of Tilbury. 

They Had Issue 

Mary, Duchess of Buckingham, 

And Elizabeth," 

" The Memory Of The Just Is 
Blessed." 

The little leisure which the bustling period 
in which he lived allowed him, he dedicated 
to the encouragement and cultivation of let- 
ters, especially as regarded the study of 
antiquities; and he left behind him a few 
poetical and miscellaneous pieces, among 
the latter of which is an interesting sketch 
of his own public life, printed in one 12ino. 
volume, 1699. 

John Milton, the author of " Paradise 
Lost," seems to have held Lord Fairfax ia 

76 



high esteem, as witness the following Sonnet 
by the poet; which is not, for obvious rea- 
sons, to be found in the editions of his 
Works, published during the life of Charles 
the 2nd. 

u Fairfax whose name in arms through Eu- 
rope rings, 
Filling each mouth with envy or with 

praise, 
And all her jealous monarchs with amaze, 
And rumours loud that daunt remotest kings. 

Thy firm unshaken virtue ever brings 
Victory home, though new rebellions rais^ 
Their hydra -beads, and the false north 
displays 
Her broken league to imp their serpent 
wings. 

Oh ! yet a nobler task awaits thy hand 
(For what can war but endless war still 

need ?) 
Till truth and right from violence be freed, 
And public faith cleared from the shameful 
hand 
Of public fraud. In vain doth valour 
bleed, 
While avarice and rapine share the land." 

The Fairfaxes have been remarkable for 
genius and talent from a very early age of 
our history, perhaps more so than any other 
family in England. They seem also to have 
possessed acquisitiveness in a high degree, 
for they became owners of property in Nor- 
thumberland, Newton Kyme, Steeton, Few- 
ston, Denton, and many other parts of the 
kingdom. There was a Sir Guy Fairfax, of 
Steeton, Knight, a judge of the King's 
Bench, before the time of Henry the 8th. 
Ferdinando Fairfax wrote " An Eulogie 
on the Obits of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, 
who died on the 13th of March Anno Dorn. 
1647," in folio. A Thomas Fairfax, and no 
doubt one of this family wrote '• The Com- 
plete Sportsman, or Country Gentleman's 
Recreations." The family is of pure Annlo- 
Saxon blood, and was established at Tor- 
chester, in Northumberland, before the Con- 
quest, and are now ramified all over Great 
Britain, and a great part of America. I 
may name a curious circumstance connected 
with the Fairfaxes The descendants of the 
family residing at Newton K} r me, near Tad- 
caster, do not inherit the estate by descent, 
but by the gift of Thomas the sixth Baron, 
who about 1/39 retired to his immense 
estates in Virginia, America. Such was his 
generosity that he gnve his English estates 
to his brother Robert, and the surplus profits 



NOTE.— THE FAIRFAXES. 



of his American estates to his poor neigh- 
bours, lie lived in a plain but most hospit- 
able and patriarchieal style upon an estate 
estimated at five millions seven thousand 
acres, and lying between the boundaries of 
the rivers Potomac and Rappahannock, a 
little kingdom of itself. His present repre- 
sentative, alive, is Charles Snowden Fairfax, 
10th Baron, and grandson of Bryan Fairfax; 
he succeeded in 1846, and married in 1855, 
Ada, second daughter of Joseph L. Bon ham, 
of Cincinnati, Ohio. His Lordship resides 
at Woodburn, in the State of Maryland ; 
and has three brothers and three sisters. 
The heir presumptive is his eldest surviving 
brother John. 

Edward Fairfax, the second son of Sir 
Thomas Fairfax and Dorothy his wife, was 
bom at Denton, near Otley, but the year of 
his birth is not clearly ascertained. He was 
probably educated at Leeds and according 
to Ralph Thoresby, the antiquary, he resided 
there for some time in a house called Stocks, 
near the Parish Church, after he had mar- 
ried. The remainder of his peaceful and 
happy life was spent in the rural retirement 
of New-hall, in the parish of Fuyistone, 
between Denton and Knaresborough. Dur- 
ing his residence at New-hall a very singular, 
to us, event took place ; the prosecution of a 
number of old women at the York Assizes 
for the incredible crime of bewitching his 
children. They were all acquitted by the 
jury, but this does not seem to have shaken 
the faith of our poet, for he left behind him 
at his death a manuscript, with the title of 
" Dsemonology, a Discourse of Witchcraft, 
as it was acted in the family of Mr. Edward 
Fairfax, of Fuyistone, in 1621." This book 
was published a few years ago in small 4to., 
and was edited by R. M. Milnes Esq., M.P., 
(now Lord Houghton) for the Philobiblion 
Society. Many of my readers will perhaps 
smile at the superstition as it is sometimes 
called, of this educated poet ; but let them 
remember that some of the greatest men 
have felt the same feeling, and it cannot be 
denied that there is a touch of it inherent in 
our nature, changing as times and circum- 
stances change, but hardly ever wholly 
dying out. 

The fame of Edward Fairfax as a poet 
rests principally on his excellent translation 
of Tasso's "Jerusalem Delivered." This 
translation had gone through seven editions 
in 1853, when Mr. Charles Knight published 
his cheap edition in two small volumes. 
This work was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth, 
and was certainly at the time of its publica- 
tion the best specimen of sweet and harmo- 



nious English. King . James the 1st delighted 
in it, and it is related that Charles the 1st 
when in prison solaced his lonely hours in 
perusing it; and yet one would think the 
name of Fairfax must have been hateful to 
him, on account of its connection with the 
Parliamentary struggles of the time. Waller 
acknowledged that for the melody of his 
numbers he was indebted to him ; and Dry- 
den mentions Fairfax as every way equal to 
Spenser. 

He also wrote the "History of Edward, 
the Black Prince," and in the 1st year of 
James the 1st he wrote Eclogues. One of 
these was printed in Mrs. Cooper's " Muses 
Library." It is a great pity they were not 
all ot them preserved to literature, as they 
must have contained curious pictures of rural 
life in Wharfdale in his day. Mr. William 
Grainge, of Harrogate, who has written 
largely of him, gives the following as a 
specimen of their style — 

•' Whilst on the rough and heath-strewn 
wilderness, 
His tender flocks the rasps and brambles 
cropp, 
The shepherd Eglon, full of sad distress, 
By the small stream sat on a mole-hill 
topp." 

The wild rasp is still abundant in Wharf- 
dale, and in the neighbourhood of Fuyistone, 
and is a most delicious fruit in its proper 
season. He is supposed to have died about 
1632, and lies buried at New-hall, between 
Denton and Knaresborough. 

His dedication of the " Jerusalem Deli- 
vered," to Queen Elizabeth, is a curious 
specimen of the laudatory and fulsome style 
common in his time, when addressing royal 
personages : — 

"TO HER HIGH MAJESTY." 

" Wit's rich triumph, wisdom's glory, 
Art's chronicle, learning's story, 

Tower of goodness, virtue, beauty; 
Forgive me, that presume to lay 
My labours in your clear eye's ray ; 

This boldness springs from faith, zeal, 
duty. 
Her hand, her lap, her vesture's hem, 
Muse, touch not for polluting them ; 

All that is hers is pure, clear, holy ; 
Before her footstool humble lie, 
So may she bless thee with her eye ; 

The sun shines not on good things solely. 
Olive of peace, angel of pleasure, 
What line of praise can your worth measure? 

77 



NOTE.— THE FAIRFAXES. 



Calm sea of bliss which no shore boundeth ; 
Famp fills the world no more with lies, 
But busied in your histories, 

Her trumpet those true wonders soundeth. 

Fame ! say all the good thou may'st, 
Too little is that all thou say'st. 

What if herself herself cotnmeuded ? 
Should we then know, ne'er known before, 
Whether her wit or worth were more P 

Ah ! no; that hook would n'er be ended. 

Your Majesty's humble subject. 

Edward Fairfax. 

There is a beautiful little poem in exis- 
tence, which shows still further the possesion 
of the "faculty divine" in the Fairfax 
family. Mr. Bryan Fairfax, its author, was 
the second son of the Rev. Henry Fairfax, 
Rector of Bolton Percy. " He appears, 
says the editor of the u Fairfax Correspon- 
dence," to have been a man of a very amiable 
disposition, and to have largely enjoyed the 
confidence of his cousin the Parliamentary 
General. Like most of the other members 
of his family, he, too, cultivated poetry, but 
with more successful results." Here is the 
poem. 

SWEET CONTENT, WHERE DOST 
THOU DWELL? 

Ego Sorte Mba Contentus. 

Sweet Content, where dost thou dwell ? 
In prince's court, or hermit's cell? 
In the country or the town ? 
Dost thou wear a sword or gown? 
Art thou rich, or art thou poor ? 
This I know, thou need'st no more. 

Stands a porter at thy gate? 
Where the men of business wait; 
Who from thy levee date the day, 
Not from Aurora's golden ray, 

1 have sought thee far and near ; 
Thou like my shadow dost appear : 
Why so cruel, so unkind, 

Still before me, or behind ? 

Sweet Content, dwell with mc, 

A virtuous wife shall welcome thec ; 

Not in a palace or a cell, 

Where noither wealth nor want doth dwell. 

Three olive plants from heaven sent, 

(As guardian angels innocent) 

Support our cruise ; 'tis open ever, 

Though seldom full, 'tis empty never. 

A conscience purc's our constant guest. 

This is our continual feast. 

13. F. 16«2. 
78 



I cannot here deny myself the pleasure of 
inserting a very delightful bit of gossip about 
the Fairfaxes, who lived at Denton, and 
Menston, prior to the time of the civil wars. 
It is copied from a lecture given by the late 
Rev. J. Hart, B.A., Vicar of Otley; and is 
entitled " Our Valley," and contains notices 
of Bolton Priory, Ilkley, Denton, Menston, 
Otley, &c. Here it is. — 

" Denton belonged to the Thwaithes's, 
who were Lardiners, that is, clerks of the 
kitchen, to William the Conqueror, and 
came with him to England. Sir William 
Fairfax married the daughter of John 
Tbwaithes, in 1515, and thus Denton passed 
into the hands of that renowned family, a 
family with which we who worship in our 
(Otley) Parish Church arc well acquainted. 
The Fairfax's are of Saxon origin, Fair Fax 
meaning "fair hair." Some years ago, a 
lady called at the Vicarage for the Church 
key j I went with her, and found her im- 
mensely stocked with " Valley" informa- 
tion, and that she was a descendant of the 
Fairfax's, being a daughter of the late 
Thomas Pulleyn Moseley, of Burley Hall; 
she had in her reticule a vellum book, 
called " Analecta Fairfaxiana," compiled 
by Charles Fairfax, uncle of the Parliamen- 
tary General ; this book contained the pedi- 
gree of the family, with a variety of heraldic 
antiquities, epitaphs, and minute biograph- 
ical particulars ; the shields and quarterings 
of the family were beautifully drawn with 
pen and ink, and its value was enhanced by 
some excellent portraits. Sir Thomas, af- 
terwards Lord Fairfax, whose tomb we have 
in the Parish Church, succeeded to the 
estate at Denton. He distinguished himself 
as a diplomatist early in life under the reign 
of Elizabeth ; She sent him five times into 
Scotland to conduct negociations with king 
James, by whom he was greatly admired. 
He was knighted on the field, made a knight 
banneret before Rouen, by the earl of Essex, 
for his courage. You remember the queen's 
favourite was sent as Captain General with 
an army to help Henry IV. of France. The 
ceremony was short but sufficiently impos- 
ing. The Earl cut off the top of Sir Thomas' 
standard, thus converting it into a little 
banner, or banneret. Sir Thomas was af- 
terwards made Lord Fairfax, he had many 
children, and lived at Denton till he was 
four score years old, and his remains lie 
under a handsome tomb in our Church, lit 
was every inch a soldier, and was grievously 
disappointed that his eldest son Sir Ferdi- 
nando shewed no military talent : he used 
to say to his grandson, clapping him on the 



NOTE.— THE FAIRFAXES. 



shoulder, " Tom ! Tom ! mind thou the bat- 
tle; thy father is a good man, but a mere 
coward ; all the good I expect is from thee." 
I think the old General expected too much, 
he wanted all his sons to excel. Faying 
Archbishop Matthew a visit one day at the 
palace in Otley, he found him in bad spirits, 
and asked the reason of his pensiveness. 
" My Lord," replied the metropolitan, *' I 
have great reason of sorrow with respect to 
my sons; one having wit and no grace; 
another, grace but no wit; and the third 
neither wit nor grace to direct him aright." 
" M ay it please your gTace," rejoined Lord 
Fairfax, " your case is sad, but not singular, 
I am also grievously disappointed in my 
sons. One (Ferdinando) I sent into the 
Netherlands, to train him up a soldier, and 
he makes a tolerable country justice, but is 
a mere coward at fighting ; my next, (Henry,) 
I sent to Cambridge, and he proves a good 
lawyer, but a mere dunce at divinity ; and 
my youngest I sent to the Inns of Court, 
and he is a good divine, but nobody at the 
law."* 

Pardon me for introducing two letters, — 
letters which must have stirred the heart of 
this w dunce at divinity." They are from 
his pretty cousin, Mary Cholmeley, of 
"Whitby, a charming girl with whom he fell 
in love whilst an undergraduate at Cambridge, 
she had only one fault, — she was poor. 
Young Henry had his degree to get, and 
his father had only the small rectory of 
Newton Kyme to give him ; however dunce 
as his ambitious father thought him, he took 
a good degree, and was made fellow of Trinity 
College ; of course, he retained his fellowship 
no longer than it enabled him to save enough 
to take into fellowship his lady love : he 
married, and lived through all those troubled 
times in peaceful seclusion. His little rec- 
tory was open to friends on either side. 
George Herbert, the Christian poet, often 
came to see the happy pair ; and they main- 
tained with the good and pious a friendship 
the centre of which was pure and undefiled 
religion. 

The first letter, Miss Cholmeley wrote 
shortly after her engagement : the next some 
years after her marriage.f 

TO MY ASSURED LOVING COUSIN, MR. HARRY 
FAIRFAX, GIVH THESE. 

Blessed God, bless our designs, prosper 
our intentions, and consummate our desires, 

* Fairfax Correspondence, p. 162, vol. 
1.— Ed. 

f See Fairfax Correspondence, p,p. 62- 
3-4., vol. 1.— Ed. 



to his glory and our comforts, if it be His 
blessed will. I am glad to hear your father 
is so well pleased, and wish to see him at 
York, where I hope by good advice to pro- 
cure the best means to move him for a join- 
ture, which, God knows, is so needful for me 
to demand, as I fear, if it be denied, we shall 
both wish you had not thought me worthy 
the title of dear love ; for so dear you are in 
my esteem that I assure you, you have no 
cause to doubt the continuance of my firm 
affection. I pray you, if Sir Ferdinando 
Fairfax be pleased to go to Whitby to my 
brother Cholmeley, concerning my portion, 
interest him to speak to Sir Thomas Fairfax 
earnestly to desire my brother Scott to go 
with him. I could say I wish to see you, 
but the weather'; is so unseasonable, and the 
ways so dangerous, by reason of waters, that 
I will not desire it. I will wear your ring 
till you take it from me. Humbly beseeching 
Almighty God to be with us, I commit you 
to His gracious protection who guides my 
heart unfeignedly, to desire myself entirely 
yours, 

Mary Cholmeley. 

My mother remembers her love to you, 
with many thanks for her Christmas pro- 
vision. My sister Scott commends herself 
kindly to you. 

to my ever dear loving mr. fairfax, 

parson of newton kyme, give 

these : london. 

My ever dearest love, 

I received a letter and horse from 
Long, on Thursday, (Jan. 31,) and will use 
means to send Procter's horse to Denton. I 
did not so much rejoice at thy sate passage, 
as at that blessed and all-sufficient Guide, 
whose thou art and whom I know thou truly 
servest, who hath for a small time parted us, 
and I firmly hope will give us a joyful 
meeting. Dear heart, take easy journeys, 
and prefer thy own health before all other 
worldly respects whatsoever. Thy three 
boys are well ; thy little Harry is weaned ; 
all that love us pray for thy safe return. I 
pray you beg a blessing for us all, for I must 
needs commit you to His gracious protection, 
who will never fail us nor forsake us. 
Thine Ever, 

Mary Fairfax. 

I need scarcely say that this marriage was 
a happy one, for as you see it was a pious 
one. True piety is the best improver of 
every good natural disposition, and the only 
corrector of the bad. How heartily I wish 
that all our Banns were published in heaven, 
and that every License bore the seal of the 

79 



NOTE.— THE FAIRFAXES. 



divine approval. Miss Cholmeley was poor, 
but surely all defects of fortune, and many 
of person, may be prudently dispensed with 
in one genuinely pious." 

IV! r. W. C. Hazlett in a letter to "Notes 
and Queries," (May 20th, 1865.) states that 
he had found the following on a spare page, 
before a copy of the Works of William 
Gouge, 1627, folio, which bad belonged to 
the Karl of Harborough. Upon the title- 
page of the book, is " Farefac, M.F., and 
throughout the volumes are copious annota- 
tions by Henry Fairfax. 

" Yorke, 10th, 18o Ano Dni., 1626. 

Mary Cholmeley. 
Anagram. — Oh I'me all mercy. 
M. My hand, my heart, my selfe, and what 

doth make it. 
C. Claime to be mine, oh I'me all mercy 
take it. 

Hey Fairfax. 

Fly restless thoughts! But hark ye, stay, 
I need not question where you go. 

The haste you make doth that betray ; 
Salute my Jove, and let him know 

My weak estate, when you did part ; 

You left me neither thought nor heart. 

If he reply and say, that I 

Possest his heart when mine I gave, 
Believe it not ; its fals, for why 

I have none, but one would gladly haive. 
If carelessly he say, Take either, 
Answer, I will have his or neither- 

If falsly hee asure them doth, 

And fly, still follow : node him out. 

Say 1'le exclude him: yet I'me loath, 
For why, I have no heart to doo't. 

You leav [e] me neither Heart nor Thought, 

And Il'e conclude I'm good for Nought. 
M. C of ever happy memory. 

M. Highflying Thoughts and Heart of thine 
Fx. Finde rest in Heaven. These wee 
resigne.'' 

Charles Fairfax, before mentioned, lived 
at Menston Old Hall, and his remains lie in 
Otley Church. " He had twin sons, who, 
when grown up, were so much alike, that 
their relatives could hardly distinguish them ; 
the one was a captain, the other a clergyman. 
It frequently happened that the soldier re- 
ceived the compliments of the clergy, and 
he was praised for his meekness, gentleness, 
and forbearance; and the minister of Christ 
received the addresses of the military, who 
would recount the battles they had fought 
under him, and the exploits they had shared 

80 



with him in the tented field. The clergy- 
man who was dean of Norwich, used to say 
that their mother was at a loss to know them, 
as he had often received presents meant for 
his brother. Before the battle of Marston 
Moor, Oliver Cromwell spent a day with 
Charles Fairfax, wishing to gain what inlor- 
mation he could concerning the country, and 
they held a consultation round the etone 
table, which is now placed in Farnley Hall." 
It is a melancholy thought — and illustrates 
the fleeting nature of all sublunary things — 
that there is not a single representative on 
the list of the British peerage of this once 
famous Wharfedale house. Anent this, 
Charles Fairfax, the son of the first Lord, 
and the brother ot Ferdinando the second 
Lord Fairfax, has left a curious document as 
a postscript to the Analecla before named. 
He says, — (the first Lord Fairfax,) '• Walking 
in his great parlour at Denton, I only then 
present,did seem much perplexed and troubled 
in his mind, but, after a few turns, broke out 
into these, or the like expressions: — Charles, 
I am thinking what will become of my family 
when I am gone; I have added a title to the 
heir male of my house, and shall leave a com- 
petent estate to support it. Ferdinando will 
keep it, and leave it to his son ; but such is 
Tom's* pride, led much by his wife, that he, 
not contented to live in our rank, will destroy 
his house' 1 

And so it vvas ; Lord Thomas married his 
daughter to the Duke of Buckingham, con- 
trary to the wishes of the Court, and Oliver 
Cromwell, the Protector, continued from that 
time to heap opprobrium and insult on the 
veteran general of his army. In short, as the 
editor of the " Fairfax Correspondence *' has 
remarked : — H Looking back upon the history 
of this family, whose members had distin- 
guished themselves in so many different paths, 
and served their country in so many different 
capacities, — in the council, in the camp, on 
the bench, and in the church ; seeing how the 
various estates of the family were from time 
to time divided and broken up ; Steeton di- 
vorced from the rest of the property by an 
act of disinheritance; Nun Appletoa, the es- 
tate of the Parliamentary General, sold to pay 
the debts of the Duke of Buckingham ; and 
Denton Hall, built by the first Lord Fairfax, 
the ancient manor of the house, Bolton Percy, 
and other estates in Yorkshire, disposed off to 
redeem the morgages of Lord Culpepper; the 
gradual dispersion and descent of the family 
from their former position in England must 
be felt as fulfilling in a remarkable manner the 
prophetic fears of the founder of the barony." 

r rhomas, the Parliamentary Ucncral. 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 

By THE LATE Re V. JOSHUA FAWCETT, M. A. 

It may be interesting to some to know, 
that Menstone Hall, near Otley, was the 
seat of Mr. Charles Fairfax, and that there 
Cromwell, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and Mr. 
Charles Fairfax, dined three days before 
the battle of Marston Moor. The stone 
table on which they dined is now in the 
possession of Mr. Fawkes, at Farnley Hall. 

Sir Thomas Fairfax was the eldest son 
of Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax, and was born 
at Denton Park, in Otley, in this county, 
in January, 1611. He married tbe daughter 
of Horatio, Lord Vere, whose family, as 
well as his own, being zealously attached 
to the Presbyterian form of religion, to- 
gether with his high station, pointed, him 

out as a fit leader in all the movements 

• 

of the opposition or Parliamentarian party. 
He was buried in the church at Bilbrough, 
near Tadcaster, in this county. The fol- 
lowing is the description of this monument : 
— " The remainder of the chapel is occupied 
by the spacious table monument of the 
distinguished Parliamentary General Lord 
Fairfax,* on the sides of the monument 
are shields of aims, trophies, &c. • and on 
the black marble slab are the family arms 
and motto, Fare Fac, and beneath, the 
following inscription : — 

"'Here lye the bodyes of the Right 
Honble. Thomas Lord Fairfax, of Denton, 
Baron of Cameron, who died November ye 
xii., 1671, in the 60th year of his age. — 
And of Anne his wife, daughter and co- 
heir of Horatio, Lord Vere, Baron of Til- 
bury. They had issue, Mary, Duchess of 
Buckingham, and Elizabeth. The memory 
of the just is blessed.' " 

Lord Fairfax, namely, Ferdinando, was 
buried in Bolton Percy church, near Tad- 
Holroyd's Collectanea, No. 6. 



Obiit 



caster, tvhere there is a handsome monu- 
ment to his memory, with an inscription 
in Latin, closing with the words, 

\ iEtatis 64. 
' J Salutis humanse, 1647*. 

Having made these prefatory remarks, 1 
will proceed to detail some of the circum- 
stances connected with the history of the 

CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD AND THE 

neighbourhood. The sources of infor- 
mation upon this subject are the following : 
— 1. A volume entitled ' The Rider of the 
White Horse and his Army, their late 
good Successe in York-sbiere; or a true 
and faithfull Relation of that famous and 
wonderful victory at Bradford, obtained by 
the Club-men there, with all the circum- 
stances thereof, and of the taking of Leeds 
and Wakefield by the same men under the 
command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, with the 
manner and circumstances thereof, from 
good hands. Seriously commended to the 
High Court of Parliament, and all that are 
of God's side, for their incouragement. 
London. Printed for Thomas Viiderhill, 
1643.' (Sir Thomas Fairfax was called 
"the Rider of the White Horse," because 
he rode upon an animal of that colour.) 
2. 'The Autobiography of Joseph Lister, 
of Bradford, in Yorkshire, to which is added 
a cotemporary account of the Defence of 
Bradford, and Capture of Leeds by the 
Parliamentarians, in 1642f.' 3. ' A genuine 
Account of the sore Calamities which be- 
fel Bradford in the Civil Wars ' And, 4. 
■ Fairfax's Memoirs.' 

Let it be borne in mind, that at the 
time when the Civil Wars, commenced, Brad- 
ford was a town of considerable importance, 
and its relation to Leeds was pointed out 
in my lecture, on ' Bradford in the Olden 
Time,' in the following words : — " Leland, 
when speaking of Leeds, says. — as large 
as Bradforde, but not so quick." 

Clarendon, in his " History of the Civil 
Wars," Vol. 11. Part 1., speaking of the 



* Here Mr. Fawcett gave an account 
of the causes which led on to the Civil 
Wars, this I omit. 

t See the "Autobiography of Joseph 
Lister, of Bradford: born 1627, died 1709. 
With an Introduction and 24 Notes. To 
which is added ' The Rider of the White 
Horse.' Bradford : Abraham Holroyd, book- 
seller and stationer, top of Westgate, I860; 
price 3d." 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



8 tren?th the Parliament had in the North, 
*ays, " Leeds, Halifax, and Bradford three 
very populous and rich towns (which, depend- 
ing wholly upon clothing, too much malinged 
the gentry) were wholly at their disposition." 
It would appear that Bradford suffered more 
from the commotions of these times than 
either of the other two mentioned places, 
and sank from a first-rate town, to one of 
very subordinate importance. In a hundred 
years subsequent to the war, the town had 
not recovered from its effects. The following 
table, taken from the parish registers, shews 
this :— 

Baptisms. Marriages. Deaths. 

1639 209 61 183 

1659 113 38 117 

1739 182 94 134 

The editor of " The Memoirs of General 
Fairfax," writing under the date of March 
16th, 1776, says, "At this time (the time of 
the siege of Bradford) the town and its 
neighbouring villages, and consequently its 
trade, suffered very sore; for its inhabitants, 
together with those of Halifax, Bingley, and 
others, interested themselves very much in 
the Parliament's favour, and by their un- 
common zeal and activity in that cause, 
drew many of the King's forces into these 
parts, to the great disadvantage of the trade 
and commerce of this country in general. 
Moreover, in or about the year 1665, in the 
reign of Kinsr Charles the Second, a most 
destructive plague broke out in London, the 
infection of which was unhappily conveyed 
hither (some say) in a bundle of old clothes 
sent from there, as the person who first 
opened them immediately took the infection ; 
however it was, the disorder spread in the 
mast rapid manner imaginable; so that 
numbers were swept off in a little time. In 
order to take every means possible to put a 
stop to this pestilential distemper, so soon as 
any person was perceived to take the infec- 
tion, he or she was immediately removed to 
a certain place called Cliff-Barn, about a 
mile from the town, where such as had had 
the disorder and recovered, waited upon those 
who were infected; provisions, with other 
necessaries suitable for such, were carried to 
a certain place at some distance from where 
the sick lay, and there left for the whole to 
fetch it at their leisure ; such as died were 
buried in the wood adjacent, where several 
grave-stones have appeared within these tew 
years, which ID part were legible, and in a 
measure seem to authenticate the above 
r^la u'ou. 

[ would remind my hearers that there 
were tvo sieges of Bradford; the first took 

H9 



place December, 1642,— the second, June 
22, 1643. 

A t the beginning of the troubles occasioned 
by the Civil Wars, Yorkshire was the scene 
of an important part of the war. The King 
being shut out of Hull, marched towards 
the south, to set up his standard at 
Nottingham, and left the command of 
the four Northern counties to William 
Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle, who gar- 
risoned York ; the Parliament gave the 
direction of the wars in those parts to 
Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax, who with his son, 
Sir Thomas Fairfax, kept up a continual 
war of outposts. This Lord Fairfax was the 
owner of Denton Park, near Ilkley, York- 
shire. A party of Newcastle's forces, under 
Sir William Saville, seized upon Leeds, and 
held some of the smaller places in the 
neighbourhood, particularly Wakefield. Sir 
Thomas Fairfax occupied Bradford, as being 
an important position for communication 
with Lancashire. Between the rival posts 
there were frequent skirmishes. 

Lister, an eye-witness of the troubles I 
am endeavouring to relate, says: — *'In the 
year 1642, one Lord's day, I went to hear 
the Rev. Mr. Wales preach, and whilst 
divine service was performing, a man* whose 
name was Sugden came hastily up to the 
chapel-door, and with a lamentable voice 
cried out " Friends, we are aH as good as dead 
men, for the Irish rebels are at Rochdale, 
and will be at Halifax and Bradford shortly." 
He added no more, but immediately set off 
towards Bradford, the place from whence he 
came, on purpose to alarm the country." 
Lister tells us that at this time he was 
fourteen years of age. He was born June 
7th 1627, and was buried in Thornton 
Chapel. (This Mr. Wales was minister for 
many years at Pudsey, and born in 1588. 
Theie is a Ion? account of him in Calamy's 
Account, p. 301—4.) •» Upon this Mr. W. 
desired the congregation to compose them- 
selves as well as they could, while he put 
himself and them in the hands of Almighty 
God by prayer, and so he did, and dismissed 
us." 

44 At the conclusion thereof I immediately 
set home to Bradford, with great anxiety of 
mind ; at my coming thereof I found the 
inhabitants gathered together in parties, ad- 
vising and consulting together what method 
to pursue (for they had heard that the rebels 
had got to Halifax) in this their desperate 
state and situation ; at length it was deter- 
mined to send a party of horsemen to Hali- 
fax, to inquire further into the truth of the 
matter, who on their coming there found it 
an untruth, for the supposed rebels were 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



only a few poor Protestants who had fled out 
of Ireland to prevent their falling a prey to 
the rage and malice of the unmerciful 
Papists, who were still pursuing the lives of 
those who had hitherto escaped their bloody 
purpose." 

" This news caused a general joy and 
gladness in every breast, for before all was 
confusion and despair. But oh ! how short 
and fleeting are all terrestrial enjoyments; 
how are they subject to changes and vicissi- 
tudes ; for in a short time after this, a body 
of horse and foot of the King's troops were 
sent and quartered in the town, who threat- 
ened the inhabitants what they would do, 
only waiting for orders to execute and satiate 
their bloody designs upon us, by destroying 
ns with fire and sword. We, therefore, be- 
gan to think of putting ourselves in some 
position of defence; accordingly, we called 
to our assistance the neighbouring villages, 
who willingly seconded our resolution." 

The first attack upon Bradford was made 
on Sunday, December 18, 1642. When the 
enemies approached the town, horsemen 
were sent to Halifax, Bingley, and the small 
towns about, who presently tonk the alarm 
and came with all speed. The Royalists 
were commanded in person by Sir William 
Saville, Sir Marmaduke Langdale, Sir John 
Gotherick. and Colonel Evans. Their num- 
bers are differently estimated. According to 
Lord Fairfax's letter, " Special Passages, 
No. 21," fourteen or fifteen hundred ; whilst 
according to Sir Thomas Fairfax's estimate, 
seven or eight hundred. Lister, in his ac- 
count, says: — "I remember one day they 
came to a hill called Hundereliffe, and 
brought two great guns with them, and 
planted them directly against the steeple, 
where w^ had men with several long gu r, s, 
that did much execution when they came 
within our shot; but God so ordered it, that 
a snow shower fell just then, and one of the 
great guns burst, which so disheartened 
them, that they went away of their own ac- 
cord." It appears that the inhabitants were 
attending divine service at church, when 
this first attack was made. We are told 
that the enemy "planted two drakes, which 
they bad brought with them, in a barn, from 
which they fired at the church, where the 
Bradford men defended themselves till to- 
wards mid-day. when some men from Hali- 
fax came to their aid ; then they sallied out, 
and drove the enemy away." (Lord Fair- 
fax's Letter, Special Passages, No. 21.; The 
marks of the shot are said still to be seen in 
the steeple of the church One of the 
Bradford men, before the others issued from 
the church, had shot the *' inastcr-gunner" 



with a fowling-piece, which had already 
daunted the enemy. The Bradford mrm 
were as yet in such nn ill condition of de- 
fence, that in the pursuit they were armed 
with "swords, sithes, long-poles with sickles 
fastened to the end of them, flaylrs, spits, 
and such like weapons. (The Kingdome's 
Weekly Intelligencer, No. 2.) It would 
appear that the inhabitants were not the 
brave defenders of it, but. that the real de- 
fenders of the town were clubmen and 
others from the surrounding villages, who 
were much interested in the Parliamentarian 
cause. Hence Lister says : — " We called to 
our assistance the neighbouring village?," 
&c; and, again, " W r e called in fresh succour 
to our assistance from Halifax, Bingley, and 
their adjacent villages," &c; and, again, 
" In a little time, partly by the shot from 
the town, and partly by the approach of 
some clubmen from Bingley, they (the Royal- 
ists) were forced to return to their part3 r ." 
Sir Thomas Fairfax gives the following brief 
account of what appeared to be this affair :— 
" The first action we had was at Bradford. 
We were about three hundred men, the 
enemy seveu or eight hundred, and two 
pieces of ordnance. They assaulted us; we 
drew out close to the town to receive tbe;r> : 
they had the advantage of the ground, the 
town being encompassed with hills, which 
exposed us more to their cannon, from which 
we received some hurt. But our men de- 
fended those passages by which they were to 
descend so well, they got no ground of us; 
and now, the day being sppnt, they drew off, 
and retired to Leeds." 

Lister says, '' Another day they (the Roy- 
alists) came down into Barker End, a place 
within a very little way of the church, and 
thpy placed their guns directly against, the 
steeple; and they were also in a line with a 
street called Kirkgate, and would probably 
therefore have done a great deal of mischief 
in the town. In the next place, a stout, 
gallant officer, commanding a company of 
foot, came running down a field, shaded with 
a hedge, intending to come running into the 
church, and so cut off the men both in the 
church and steeple : but the men in the 
steeple having a full view of their design, 
ordered a man to meet them, and give them 
a charge; and the commander coming first, 
two of the townsmen fired, and struck him 
down; he cried out for quarter, and they, 
poor men, not knowing the meaning of it, 
said, 'Aye, they would quarter him,' and so 
killed him. (It is said that the marks of 
the shot are still visible on the steeple of the 
parish church.) I think they said he was 
the Earl of Newport, or his son, as I 

83 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



remember; and they sent a trumpeter to 
lest his corpse, which was the next clay 
delivered to them." It is thought that 
I .ister was mistaken as to this person beiug 
the Earl of Newport, inasmuch as from the 
« Peerage of England,' 8vo., 1711, vol. II., 
p. 229, he is said to have died at Oxford in 
1665: Lord Fairfax, in a letter, a copy of 
which is preserved in the British Museum, 
mentions "Col. Evers, and Capt. Bynnes 
and another commander reported to he 
killed" on the .side of the Royalists. In 
the 'Kingdom's Weekly Intelligencer,' No. 
2, we are told, that " Colonel! Evers, and 
one Colonell Moore, were there slain." In 
'The Eider of the White Horse and his 
Army,' &c, we find enumerated as '* slain of 
their's Sir John Harper, as one Saville taken 
at Halifax coufesseth, Captain Wray, and 
Captain Bins." It is not improbable that 
this last mentioned person is the one whom 
Lister took for " the Earl of Newport or bis 
son." 

The champion of the Royalist party hav- 
ing fallen, his men were easily driven back; 
so suddenly did a panic strike them, that, as 
Lister says, they ** immediately ran away to 
Leeds, their den; and the townsmen fell in 
the rear of them, and .some little skirmish 
was made, and some little work was done, 
but not much." It has been said, that dur- 
ing this siege the townsmen hung woolpack.s 
around the tower of the church for its better 
preservation, and that the Royalists took 
possession of two houses within a i'ew yards 
of the church, probably the site of the pre- 
sent vicarage. We are told that the large- 
ness of the church windows, and the small- 
ness of those of the houses, gave a decided 
advantage to the Royalists; and the be- 
sieged being determined to dislodge the 
enemy at all hazards, made an assault upon 
the two houses, burst open the doors, and 
slew those that resisted : the rest fled into 
an adjoining fi Id, whither they were followed 
by Hie Roundheads or inhabitants. The 
Roundheads defeated the Royalists. The 
latter, seeing no chance of taking the town, 
began to retreat, and were pursued by fifty 
fire-men and club-men from the town, a mile 
and a- half, up to the Moor, and having the 
whole enemy at their butt, made a consider- 
able slaughter. The fight lasted eight 
hours. This seems to have been the scene 
of the first of the Civil War conflicts, at 
least in the northern counties ; for Fairfax 
commences his memoirs with saying, " 77<e 
first ndi< n we had was at Bradford." The 
author ot " The Rider of the White Horse," 
8ce, thus concludes his account of this ac- 
tion, '• f ; is was the issue of the fight, wherein 
M 



nothing can be seen but God, and the won- 
derful effects of his glorious attributes. Let 
us and our enemies both see it, that they 
may feare and shame, that we may trust and 
praise our God, who hath manifested him- 
selfe to be the Lord of Hosts." 

We now proceed with that part of the 
history of the Civil Wars which brings us 
to the Second &ieye of Bradford. Lister 
says " the Earl of Newcastle was come to 
Wakefield with a strong army, intending to 
overturn the country, which my Lord Fair- 
fax, then commander for the Parliament, 
understanding, he gathered all the forces 
under his command, and sent into Lancashire 
for some assistance from there, and some 
troops came, and I think, some few foot. 
Sir Thomas Fairfax commanded the horse. 
So it was that the Earl of Newcastle had 
marched his army as far as Howley Hall, 
(near Batley,) (another den of dragons,) and 
Adwalton. So my Lord Fairfax got his men 
ready very early in the mornin?. " I marched 
away to Adwalton: and charged them so 
warmly that they heat them off their great 
guns, and turned them against them, and 
the enemy began to run.'' " The Earl of 
Newcastle (Fairfax says Hook Howley house 
on the 22d of June, and therein Sir John 
Saville. From there he marched to Brad- 
ford, a Parliamentary garrison. This house, 
or rather the ruins of it, may be seen from 
the London and North Western Railway 
between Leeds and Dewsbury, about two 
miles from the latter place, to the south of 
the line. There is a tradition that a quan- 
tity of oak wainscotting was brought from 
Howley- house or ball on its demolition, and 
made use of in the furnishing of the Pres- 
byterian chapel, Bradford; as also the ancient 
gateway of the chapel. Both the wainscot- 
ting and the gateway will repay examination, 
The battle of Adwalton or Ather^on Moor 
was most disastrous: Sir Thomas Fairfax 
in his memoirs, tells us, that "as soon as 
they heard that the Earl was marching to 
attack Bradford," which was a very unten- 
able place, " he and his father determined to 
go and meet him." They were to have 
marched at four o'clock in the morning, but 
the unnecessary delays of Major-general 
Gilford, whose office it was to get every thing 
ready, kept them till seven or eight, " not 
without suspicion of treachery " so that the 
enemy was prepared, and his whole army 
'• drawn up in battalia," on Adderton Moor. 
Lord Fairfax had few horse, and they had to 
march up hill to the attack ; but they first 
beat in the royalist foot, and then drove 
horse and foot together up to the cannons. 
At this critical moment, the rashness of some 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



of the parliamentarians grave the enemy a 
momentary advantage, which was increased 
by the ill conduct of Major-general Giffi rd, 
"who did not his part as he ought to do," 
and the royalists rallied and entirely de- 
feated the parliamentarian army. The 
horse, with Sir Thomas Fairfax, escaped to 
Halifax, and Fairfax with part of the foot, 
reached Bradford, which was immediately 
besieged by the Earl of Newcastle. Lord 
Fairfax left Bradford and went to Leeds, 
before the town was blocked up, and Sir 
Thomas Fairfax came with what men he 
could raise to Bradford, when at the time of 
the siege he had eight hundred and sixty 
horse The Earl of Newcastle in besieging 
Bradford made Bowling Hall his head quar- 
ters. This old house is clearly a very 
ancient structure, and was formerly the 
residence of the Boilings. Whilst it is one 
of the oldest habitable mansions in York- 
shire, it is one of the most interesting, in all 
probability the most ancient part, having 
been erected 400 or 500 years ago. 

It will be for us to take a little more 
leisurely survey of the battle of Adderton, 
or Atherton, or perhaps more properly Ad- 
walton. It would appear that Fairfax hav- 
ing been successful in his march against 
Wakefield, the Earl of Newcastle determined 
to give him battle at Bradford. Fairfax's 
success consisted in his bringing away four- 
teen hundred prisoners, eighty officers, 
twenty-eight colours, and' a great store of 
ammunition. When the men of Bradford 
heard of the Earl's intention of besieging 
their town, they seem to have set forth on 
the way to Wakefield, and coming up with 
the Royalist troops at Adwalton, there the 
engagement took place. This engagement 
cannot be better described than in Sir 
Thomas Fail fax's own words: — 

"My father appointed four of the clock 
next morning to begin our inarch ; but Ma- 
jor-General GifTord, who had the ordering of 
the business, so delayed the execution of it, 
that it was seven or eight before we began to 
move, and not without much suspicion of 
treachery ; for when we came near the place 
we intended, the enemy's whole army was 
drawn up in battalions. 

" We were to go up a hill to them, which 
our forlorn hope gained by beating their's 
into their main body, which was drawn up 
half a mile from them upon a plain called 
Adderton Moor We being all got up the 
hill, drew into battalia also. I commanded 
the right wing, which was about one thousand 
foot and five troops of horse. Major-General 
Gifford commanded the left wing, which was 



about the same number. My father com- 
manded in chief. 

" We advanced through the enclosed 
grounds, till we came to the moor, beating 
the foot that kvy in them, to their main 
body. 

" Ten or twelve troops of horse charged 
us in the right wing; we kept the inclosures, 
placing our musketeers in the hedges next 
the moor; which was a good advantage to 
us who had so few horse. 

" There was a gate, or open place, to the 
Moor, where five or six might enter abreast. 
Here they strive to enter, we to defend it ; 
but after some dispute those that entered the 
pass found sharp entertainment; and those 
who were not yet entered, as hot a welcome 
from the musketeers that flanked them in 
the hedges. They were all, in the end, 
forced to retreat, with the loss of Colonel 
Howard, who commanded them. 

" Our left wing at the same time was en- 
gaged with the enemy's foot, and had gained 
ground of them. The horse came down 
again, and charged us, they being about 
thirteen or fourteen troops. We defended 
ourselves as before, but with more difficulty; 
many having got in among us were beaten 
off with some loss. Colonel Heme, who 
commanded that party, was slain. We pur- 
sued them to their cannon. 

" This charge, and the resolution our men 
showed in the left wing, made the enemy 
think of retreating. Orders were given fur 
it, and some marched off the field. 

" Whilst they were in this wavering con- 
dition, one Colonel Skirton desired his gen- 
eral to let him charge once with a stand of 
pikes, with which he broke in upon our men, 
and not being relieved by our reserves, which 
were commanded by some ill-affected officers, 
chiefly Major General Gifford, who did not 
his part as he ought to do, our men lost 
ground, which the enemy seeing, pursued 
this advantage, by bringing on fresh troops ; 
ours being herewith discouraged, began to 
fly, and were soon routed. The horse also 
charged us again. We not knowing what 
was doing in the left wing, our men main- 
tained their ground, till a command came for 
us to retreat, having scarce any way now to 
do it, the enemy being almost round about 
us, and our way to Bradford cut off. But 
there was a lane in the field we were in 
which led to Halifax, which, as a happy 
providence, brought us off. without any great 
loss, save of Captain Talbot, and twelve 
more that were slain in this last encounter. 
Of those who fled, there were about sixty 
killed, and three hundred taken prisoners. 

"After this ill success, we had small hopes 

85 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



of better, wanting all things necessary in 
Bradford tor the defence of the town, and no 
expectation of help from any place. The 
Earl of Newcastle presently besieged the 
town ; but before he had surrounded it, I 
got in with those men I brought from 
Halifax/' 

Mr. James, in his " History of Bradford," 
with considerable probability, endeavours to 
identify the position of the different troops 
with the present locality. He says that 
" the hill gained by the Parliamentarians on 
beating in the advanced guard of Newcastle's 
army, was Wisket-hill. From inquiries 
made on the spot, 1 ascertained that it is yet 
called •'■ Red-hill," and that numbers of 
musket-balls are frequently found buried 
just beneath the surface. The conflict ap- 
pears to have been severe in gaining this 
hill. The battle has ever been named from 
it; for Roseworn, in his "Historical Rela- 
tion of eight years' service for the King and 
Parliament" states that about July 4, 1643, 
the Earl of Newcastle beat the Parliamen- 
tary army at ,; Whisket-hill." 

14 The following teems to have been the 
position of Lord Fairfax's army :— The right 
wing was stationed at a point on the south- 
west side of the Moor, where there still 
remains the end of the lane along which Sir 
Thomas Fairfax retreated. It is at this day 
called Warren's Lane ; within the memory 
of old persons resident on the spot, it led to 
Oakwell Hall, and in the direction of Hali- 
fax. At the west of the Moor there is 
another lane leading to Birkenshaw, and out 
upon 'long Moor. Where this lane joins the 
Moor the centre of the line of the Round- 
heads was stationed, commanded by Lord 
Fairfax. Near the Windmill standing to 
the north of the Moor, was most likely the 
post of Major-General Gifford. Mr. Scat- 
ciierd says (and the residents on the spot 
confirm it), that, in the fields north-west of 
the Windmill, the number of bullets dis- 
covered in turning up the ground have been 
so great that a dozen have been found in a 
day." 

1 he precise day upon which this battle 
was fought is not easily determined, " Rose- 
worn" Bxing it probably in the beginning of 
July, - Lister ' about the middle of June ; 
"Ru'shworth" however, states the day as 
June 30. Lord Fairfax retired to Leeds, 
and thence to Hull, leaving Sir Thomas to 
defend the town of Bradford against what 
must now be called " The Second Siege of 
ford." 
'I he Earl of Newcastle took possession of 
Bowling Hall, and took two or three days in 
investing the town. The steeple of the 



parish church was being hung with wool 
packs on the side facing the enemy, whose 
cannon, as Lister says, " gave it many a sad 
shake." 

The following is the account given us by 
Lord Fairfax himself, and it appears in his 
memoirs, pp. 46 — 50 : — 

''The Earl of Newcastle spent three or 
four days in laying his quarters about the 
town of Bradford, and brought down his 
cannon, but heeded not to raise batteries, for 
the hills within half musket shot commanded 
the town. Being planted in two places, they 
shot furiously upon us, and made their ap- 
proaches, which made us spend very much 
of our little store being not above twenty- 
five or twenty-six barrels of powder, at the 
beginning of the siege. Yet the Earl of 
Newcastle sent a trumpeter to offer us con- 
ditions, which I accepted, so they were 
honourable for us to take, and safe for the 
inhabitants. We sent two captains to treat 
with him, and agreed to a cessation during 
that time; but he continued working still; 
whereupon I sent forth the commission 
again, suspecting a design of attempting to 
meet something upon us. They returned 
not until eleven o'clock at night, and then 
with a slight answer. (Whilst the parle}', 
which lost part of the day, was going on, the 
enemy took advantage of it to remove their 
cannon probably into Goodman's-end, in 
order to command the heart of the town ) 
Whilst they were delivering it to him, we 
heard great shooting of cannon and muskets; 
all run presently to the works, which the 
enemy was storming. Here for three quar- 
ters of an hour was very hot service, but at 
length they retreated. They made a second 
attempt, but were also beaten off; after this, 
we had not above one barrel of powder left, 
and no match. I called the officers together, 
when it was advised and resolved to draw 
off presently, before it was day, and retreat 
to Leeds, by forcing a way, which we must 
do, for they had commanded the town. Or- 
ders were despatched, and speedily put in 
execution. The foot commanded by Colonel 
Rogers was sent out. It sought some narrow 
lanes, and they were to beat up the dragoons' 
quarters, and so go on to Leeds. I myself, 
with some other officers, went with the horse, 
which were not above fifty, in a more open 
way. I must not forget my wife, who ran 
the same hazard with us in the retreat, and 
with as little expression of fear; not from 
any zeal, or delight in the war, but through 
a willing and patient suffering of this unde- 
sirable condition. I sent two or three horse- 
men before, to discover what they could of 
the enemy ; who presently returned and told 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



us there was a guard of horse close by us. 
J lefo re I had gone forty paces, the day be- 
ginning to break, I saw them up the hill 
above us, being about 300 horse. I, with 
twelve more, charged them ; Sir Henry 
Fowles, Major-General Gifford, mj'self, and 
a few men brake through; Captain Mudd 
was there, and the rest of our horse being 
close by, the enemy fell upon them, taking 
most of them prisoners, and among whom 
was my wife, the officer William Hill, be- 
hind whom she rid, being taken." The spot 
where Lady Fairfax is supposed to have been 
taken was the present inn, called the " Cock 
and Bottle," in High Street. 

Fairfax further tells us that he " saw this 
disaster, but could give no relief." He then 
retired to Leeds. Lady Fairfax was imme- 
diately sent by the Earl of Newcastle to 
her husband's quarters at Hull. It is sup- 
posed that the road taken by Fairfax in 
retreating was the old road to Leeds, up 
Barkerend; and that the place where Lady 
Fairfax was captured was somewhere near 
the spot where the Eccleshill road branches 
off. 

Fairfax says, tt Not many days after, the 
Earl of Newcastle sent my wife back again 
in his coach, with some horse to guard her; 
which generous act of his gained him more 
reputation than he could have got by detain- 
ing a lady prisoner upon such terms." 

The consternation felt by the inhabitants 
when Bradford was taken is thus described 
by Lister : — " Oh ! what a night and morn- 
ing was that in which Bradford was taken ! 
What weeping and wringing of hands! 
None expecting to live any longer than till 
the enemy came into the town ; the Earl of 
Newcastle having charged his men to kill 
all, man, woman, and child, in the town, and 
to give them all Bradford quarter, for the 
brave Earl of Newport's sake. However, 
God so ordered it, that before the town was 
taken the Earl gave a different order (viz.), 
that quarter should be given to all the 
townsmen." 

" It was generally reported that something 
came on the Lord's-day night, and pulled 
the clothes off his (the Earl of Newcastle's) 
bed, in Bowling Hall, several times, and 
cried out with a lamentable voice, ' Pity 
poor Bradford ; ' that then he sent out his 
orders that neither man, woman, nor child 
should be killed in the town ; and that then 
the apparition, which had so disturbed him, 
left him, and went away ; but this I assert 
not as a certain truth ; but this is true that 
they slew very few in the town. Some des- 
perate fellows wounded several persons, that 
died of their wounds afterwards ; but I think 



not more than half-a-score were slain ; and 
that was a wonder, considering what hatred 
and rage they came with against us. But 
we were all holden to God, who tied their 
hands, and saved our lives." 

The soldiers entering the town pillaged it. 
Lister says that " the women were gathering 
meal in the streets; for when the soldiers 
found anything better than meal, they 
emptied the sacks, and put that which was 
better in them, so that there was good store 
of meal thrown out both in the houses and 
streets." 

The Earl of Newcastle, having succeeded 
in his siege of the town, did not long remain 
here ; but leaving garrisons in Bradford and 
other towns, withdrew his forces. 

It will be interesting here to mention, that 
soon after the consternation consequent upon 
the collision between the Royalists and 
Parliamentarians in Bradford, the celebrated 
John Sharp, afterwards Archbishop of York, 
was born, and which event took place on 
Shrove Tuesday, February 16, 1644, in a 
house upon the site of which the house ad- 
joining the Unicorn Inn, to the west side of 
Ivegate. now stands. The Archbishop's 
father was attached to the straitest sect of 
Puritans, and warmly adhered to the Parlia. 
ment in the Civil Wars. This house Lord 
Fairfax made his head quarters when in 
Bradford, It is also an interesting fact that 
the adjoining parishes of Bradford and Hali- 
fax each furnished an archbishop at this time 
— Sharp, Archbishop of York, and Tillotson, 
Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Lister thus describes what he saw after the 
retreat of the Royalists: — 

" Now it was that the inhabitants, in some 
measure, durst appear again in the streets ; 
amongst such I ventured abroad, and took a 
walk up Kirkgate, and, at my return, met 
with a particular acquaintance leading his 
horse ; I asked him what he was about to do, 
and how he durst venture to appear with his 
horse in public; he said he had attempted 
to join the parliament's forces; but was pre- 
vented by the guards that were posted in 
every place about the town to obstruct any 
such attempt ; that his brother Sharp was 
gone a volunteer with them, for whose safety 
he was very much concerned ; that he feared 
he should never see him more, and therefore 
wished he could find an opportunity to follow 
him. He entreated me, if possible, to ac- 
company him out of the town. I was very 
much concerned for him, but we were sur- 
rounded on every side by the enemy's troops, 
so that it seemed impossible to escape their 
vigilance, and therefore I could not dense 
which way to be serviceable to him ; however 

87 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



] told him I would ask my mother's advice, 
and leave to accompany him, which I did, 
and she granted, though with reluctance. 
Accordingly we walked towards the church, 
intending to go through a certain lane called 
Deadman's-Lane, but when we came there, 
were prevented by a post of the enemy set 
on purpose to examine every passenger that 
came that way ; we therefore returned, and 
came up Kirkgate again. I now advised my 
friend to leave his horse in the town, perad- 
venture we might better accomplish our 
designs on foot ; accordingly he did so, and 
we now walked up above the market place, 
intending to go down a lane called Sill- 
Briggs-Lane, but there also we were prevented 
by the like occasion as befote ; however we 
endeavoured to escape their notice, and so 
evade their purpose, which we happily did 
by taking up on the right side of them, and 
so got down to the water side ; but on a sud- 
den we heard a party of horse coming down 
a lane called Leg-grams ; we skulked under 
the side of a high ditch, where we lay un- 
discovered till they were passed by, not 
daring to stir for some time, and night ap- 
proaching, which was short, for it was in the 
month of June, 1643 ; we lay there till day 
broke, at which time we set off, intending to 
go to a village called Clayton ; we had not 
gone far before we met with two troopers, 
who behaved pretty well to us, they had left 
their horses in the town, had been about 
business in the country, and were returning ; 
we thought to have returned with them, but 
meeting with two other persons, who, like us, 
were seeking refuge, we again altered our 
purpose and pursued the road we before had 
intended. 

" We had not gone far before we espied a 
trooper on horseback, in full speed towards 
us; struck with amazement we all set a- 
running together, and as we ran a sudden 
thought came into my mind ; if we continue 
together, we shall all be taken together ; I 
therefore immediately separated from my 
companions and made directly towards the 
opposite fence, where, luckily meeting with 
a thick holly, I rushed into the thickest part 
of it and pulled the branches about me as 
well as I possibly could. While the trooper, 
in full speed pursuing my companions, at 
length overtook them, wounded one, and 
the other two surrendered, so he took them 
all three ; and passing by the place where I 
lay concealed, heard him inquire for their 
other companion, but they, not perceiving 
where I lay, told him they could not inform 
him. 

■' Having thus escaped being taken by the 
trooper, 1 lay still all day, not daring to stir 



for fear of being perceived and pursued a 
second time. When night approached I 
ventured out of my hiding-place, resolving 
to go to Colne, in Lancashire, where I un- 
derstood my master was (for I was yet an 
apprentice), knowing he went off with the 
party that went thitherward after their de- 
feat at the battle of Adwalton; I travelled 
all night, and coming thither, presently 
found my master, who received me very 
kindly; he enquired how matters had gone at 
Bradford since he left it ; I informed him of 
every circumstance that occurred to my 
mind, especially of my late escape out of 
the hands of the trooper ; he asked me if I 
was willing to return to Bradford again, and 
enquired what was become of my dame, (his 
wife,) and let him know further hereafter ; I 
consented so to do, and accordingly in the 
morning set out on my return thither, but 
when I came near the town, fear and amaze- 
ment seized my spirits; for some time I 
durst not approach it, not hearing whether 
the enemy had abandoned it or not ; and the 
late danger I had so narrowly escaped acted 
upon my mind; however, darkness coming 
on, I approached a little nearer, and so 
entered in at the upper part of the town, but 
durst not proceed far therein ; for I had not 
as yet met with any person to give me the 
least information how matters stood with 
them ; so stepped into the first place I pos- 
sibly could meet with, which was an empty 
cellar, where I lay all night, nor durst I stir 
for fear of being discovered, but slept little. 
" As soon as it was light I crept out of my 
subterranean lodging ; but oh ! what a scene 
of devastation and distress presented itself to 
my view." I need not further give Lister's 
account of what he saw, as it has been al- 
ready referred to. 

Before 1 bring this lecture to a close, 
a few words of a practical bearing seem 
desirable. 

All history may be rendered valuable aa a 
means of instruction and profit, and to this 
general truth, the history of the Civil Wars 
in England forms no exception, but rather 
furnishes a striking proof and confirmation 
of it. 

It is our happiness to live in an age when 
the mutual rights and duties of men are 
better understood and acknowledged than 
formerly, — when neither are rights separated 
from their corresponding duties, nor duties 
from their corresponding rights. We live in 
a period of the world's history when the 
fullest freedom of expression on all points of 
policy is willingly accorded, consistent with 
safe government; and in which, whilst men 
claim the privilege to think for themselves 



THE CIVIL WARS IN BRADFORD. 



the} r are disposed to treat with courtesy and 
respect those who differ from them. This 
could be scarcely said to be case in those 
troublesome times. 

The whole history of the civil wars may 
teach us further, that it is much easier to 
pull down a house than to rebuild it. The 
principals in the strife which took place be- 
tween the two contending parties in the State 
found this to be too true ; and hence a lead- 
ing Anabaptist presented this address to the 
King, in which he tried to excuse himself 
from having gone so far as the beheading of 
Charles, by arguing that it was zeal on his 
(the King's) behalf more than their own 
that led to results that they had never in- 
tended nor imagined : — 

" This, then the Parliament, being sensi- 
ble of and desirous out of a zeal they had, 
to the honour of their Sovereign, to disperse 
and dispel those black clouds that were con- 
tracted about him, that he might shine the 
more glorious in the beauty of his own 
lustre, though themselves engaged in duty to 
endeavour to redeem and rescue him from 
the violent and strong impulses of his Evil 
Counsellors, who did captivate him at their 
pleasures to their own corrupt tastes, and did 
every day thrust him into actions prejudicial 
to himself and detractive to the common 
good and safety of the People. 

" Upon this account, and. to this and no 
other end, were we at first invited to take up 
armes, and 'tho we have too great cause to 
conclude from what we have since seen acted, 
that under those plausible and gilded pre- 
tences of liberty and reformation, there were 
secretly managed the hellish designs of 
wicked, vile and ambitious persons (whom 
'tho then and for a long time after concealed, 
Providence, and the series of things have 
since discovered to us) ; yet, we bless God 
that we went out in the simplicity of our 
souls, aiming at nothing more than was 
publicly owned in the face of the Sun, and 
that we were so far from entertaining any 
thoughts of casting off our allegiance to his 
Majesty or extirpating his Family, that we 
had not the least intention of so much 
abridging him of any of his just Prerogatives, 
but only of restraining those excesses of 
Government for the future, which were no- 
thing, but the excrescences of a wanton 
Power, and were more truly to be accounted 
the burthens than ornaments of his Royal 
Diadem." 

It is most important we should calmly 
judge between reformation and revolution. 
The former is the aim of all well-affected to 
the state ; the latter, of those who seek their 
own advantage in the general ruin, rather 



than their country's good. To amend what- 
ever is faulty is the best proof we can give 
of the genuineness of our patriotism ; whilst 
to pass over abuses until they become inca- 
pable of removal is a sign of indifference to 
that which is in the truest sense fatal to good 
order and the best interest of the country. 

Living at a distance of two centuries, we 
can composedly weigh the relative merits of 
the movement which upheaved to its very 
centre the throne and constitution of Eng- 
land, and however much we must mourn 
over many excesses which then appeared, 
we cannot but be thankful that a kind and 
merciful Providence overruled all things to 
our country's eventual good. If this be the 
conclusion we come to, after such an interval 
of time, let it teach us the valuable lesson 
not to judge too harshly or censoriously of 
those who in some things may differ from us, 
but wait patiently the issue, which may serve 
to elicit a different result from that which at 
the time we may be disposed to arrive at. 

I know not that I can dismiss you better 
than by reading the following beautiful 
epitaph written by the Duke of Buckingham 
on Sir Thomas Fairfax, the moral of which 
is very valuable, and contains the pith of the 
whole subject : 

Under this Stone doth lie 

One born for Victory ; 

FAIRFAX the Valiant and the only He 

Who e'er for that alone a Conqueror would 

be. 

Both Sexes Vertues were in him combin'd, 
He had the fierceness of the Manliest mind, 
And all the meekness too of Womankind. 

He never knew what Envy was nor Hate ; 
His soul was fill'd with worth and honesty, 
And with another thing besides quite out of 
date, 

Call'd Modesty. 

When all the Nation he had won, 
And with expence of blood had bought 
Store great enough, he thought, 
Of Fame, and of Renown, 
He then his Arms laid down 
With full as little Pride 
As if h'ad been oth conquer'd side, 
Or one of them could do, that were undone. 

He neither Wealth nor Places sought ; 
For others, not himself he fought. 
He was content to know, 
For he had found it so, 
That when he pleas'd to conquer, he was 
able, 



NOTE.— GENERAL LAMBERT. 



- 



And left the Spoil and Plunder to the 
Rabble. 

He might have been a King, 
But that he understood, 

How much it is a meaner thing 
To be unjustly Great, than honourably 
Good— 

This from theWorld did admiration draw, 

And from his Friends both love and awe, 

Remembering what he did in Fight before; 

Nay his Foes lov'd him too, 

As they were bound to do, 

Because he was resolv'd to Fight no more. 

Thh Substance of a Lecture delivered at 
the Mechanics' Institute, Bradford, 
February 26th, 1856. 



More than ordinary interest was given to 
the lecture in consequence of F. H. Fawkes, 
Esq., of Farnley Hall, having generously 
placed at the service of the lecturer and the 
Institute for this occasion a number of valu- 
able relics of the Civil Wars as illustrative 
of the subject. These interesting objects, 
which had been seat specially in charge of a 
servant from Farnley Hall, occupied a 
prominent place on the lecture table, and 
appeared to excite the greatest interest and 
curiosity, as was strikingly evinced in the 
eagerness with which a great portion of the 
audience gathered round them at the close of 
the lecture. These relics consisted ot the 
sword of Oliver Cromwell; the sword of 
General Lambert; the Fairfax sword; a 
drum used in Fairfax's army; Cromwell's 
hat ; the watch of Cromwell; the seal of the 
Commonwealth used for the approbation of 
ministers; the Fairfax boot cup— formed 
partly of the boot of General Fairfax; a 
pair of curious candlesticks, which once be- 
longed to Sir Thomas Fairfax; and fac- 
similes of three public documents. To these 
was added a cannon ball — no doubt also a 
relic of the Civil Wars— found near the Sun 
Bridge in 1850, behind the 6hop of Messrs. 
Dixon and Masser, and presented by them 
to the museum of the Bradford Mechanics' 
Institute. 

In subsequently giving a brief digest of 
the evidence of authenticity of these various 
interesting relics of the Civil Wars, Mr. 
Fawcett stated that the sword of Oliver 
Cromwell was given by him to Swinton, one 
of the Scotch judges, in his own time. By 
that family it had ever since been preserved, 
together with an original picture of Crom- 
90 



well, still in their possession at Swinton in 
Berwickshire. At the Restoration Swinton 
escaped to Holland, and all his estates were 
forfeited, and by the Crown given to the 
Duke of Lauderdale, who cut down every 
tree but one, which was blown down a short 
time since. Swinton returned with William, 
and his estates were restored to him. On 
those estates his posterity still reside. Gen- 
eral Lambert's sword was given to the late 
Walter Fawkes, Esq. (as well as the Fairfax 
boot cup, made out of one of his Marston 
Moor boots) by Matthew Wilson, Esq., of 
the Manor House, Otley, and the authen- 
ticity of the former is maintained by him in 
a printed document produced. The Lam- 
bert sword bore on its hilt the Lambert crest 
— " the Lion and Serpent*." The Fairfax 
sword told its own tale, having the Fairfax 
arms upon it. The drum which beat to 
arms during the whole of the Civil Wars in 
these parts (having no doubt often been 
heard in the streets of Bradford) belonged to 
Fairfax, and his family arms are upon it. 
The hat, called Cromwell's hat, was left at 
Denham Court, Bucks., by Oliver Cromwell, 
on his return from the battle ot Newbury, 
Oxon., and presented to Walter Fawkes, Esq., 
by T. L. Parker, January 31. 1818. The 
watch exhibited belonged to Cromwell, and 
was worn by him. The seal for the appro- 
bation of Ministers was that which com- 
pleted the appointment of ministers during 
the Commonwealth. It bears upon it the 
legend " The seal for approbation of Minis- 
ters," and also an open Bible, with the in- 
scription upon the pages " The Word of 
God." The three fac-similes of documents 
were the following : 1, a document called a 
" Benevolence." addressed by King Charles 
I. to Thomas Fawkes, Esq., A.L). 1626, and 
2 and 3 are copies of military commissions 
signed by Cromwell and Fairfax. The 
candlesticks were the property of Sir Thomas 
Fairfax. 



NOTE. 

• In this lecture Mr. Fawcett give* no 
particulars respecting Colonel, afterwards 
General Lambert. From Whitaker's His- 
tory of Craven 1 copy the following skeleton 
pedigree : — 

"John Lambert, of Preston, as 
per award 14 Ed 4th. Thomas his Son, 
living 14th E d 4tb. John Son of Thomas, 
Vice Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
obit 1569. John his Son, of Calton, Justice 
of the Peace for the West Riding, living 
1685. Josias his Son, of Calton, born in 



NOTE.— GENERAL LAMBERT; 



1554, buried at Kirby Malghdale, Sept. 2nd 
1632. John Lambkrt his Son, of Calton, 
Esq. baptised at Kirby Malghdale, Nov. Jth, 
1619, afterwards the celebrated commander 
of the Parliament. John, his Son, of Cal- 
ton, Esq., Sheriffe of Yorkshire, A D., 1699. 
John, his Son, last male heir, died young." 
It appears that the Calton's were the first 
Lords of Calton, after them the Malham's, 
and then the Lamberts. 

After the breaking out of the civil war, 
Colonel Lambert served under Sir Thomas 
Fairfax, and soon after the first siege of 
Bradford the command of the forces then in 
Bradford, was in the hands of Colonel Lain- 
beit, as appears from the following letter 
addressed to Sir Thomas Fairfax, soliciting 
his presence in Bradford. 

For My Truly Honourable Sir Thomas 
Fairfax, etc. 

Sir, The last night I sent out a party of 
horse and foot, commanded by Captain Ask- 
with, to fall upon the enemy's quarters at 
Hunslett, which accordingly was done, 
through God's assistance with good success. 
"XV e took some prisoners; Major Vavasour, 
Captain Hughes, Captain Lordhouse, Cap- 
tain Laine. Captain Labourne, and Captain 
Talbot ; three lieutenants, four gentlemen, 
about 200 common soldiers, besides some 
slain: and I bless God without any loss on 
our part at all. Divers others of better 
quality very narrowly escaping. We all, in 
these parts, exceedingly long for and desire 
your appearance here, which I am confident 
were enough to clear these parts, if the op- 
portunity be not slipped. General King is 
certainly at Durham, but I cannot tell with 
what force, but I fear lest his intention be 
for this country. 

Sir, I desire you not to think the following 
tediou* unto you, which are in the behalf of 
my chirurgeon, who. having spent all his 
chest at Nantwick, desires that you will be 
pleased to afford him some recruit. Sir, I 
beseech you pardon his tedious petition, who 
rests, Sir, your most faithful and humble 
servant, Jo. Lambart. 

Bradford, March 6th, 1643, (N.S. 1644.) 

On the 11th of the same month Colonel 
Lambert addresses a letter " For My Much 
Respected Friend, Mr. Secretary Nicholas*, 
etc.," from Bradford, part of which I copy: 
— " Sir, The reason of my address unto you 
is, because I am informed by some of our 



* From Mr. Bentley's Collection. Mr. 
Nicholas was Secretary to Sir Thomas 
Fairfax, 



friends and countrymen that Sir Thomas ap- 
pointed so much money for us out of your 
store as would make our horse a month's 
pay, and because I hear my general is in 
Cheshire, and the purse in your keeping. If 
you be acquainted with Sir Thomas's plea- 
sure, I desire you will be pleased to disburse 
unto Mr. Hugh Carrier the said sum. I 
have sent you the number of their horses as 
they appeared the last muster, and since then 

they are increased something." 

Jo. Lambart. 
The following respecting General Lambert 
may not be unacceptable; those desiring to 
know more may consult the " Penny Cyclo- 
pedia," article Lambert. 

About June, 1648, he was in the North 
waiting for the Scots, to which place Crom- 
well sent him some reinforcements. In 
October he was ordered to Edinburgh, and 
from thence to Pontefract to conduct the 
last siege of the Castle which he concluded.* 
On the 26th June, 1650, Cromwell being 
constituted Captain General, he marched 
against the Scots with Lambart for his Major 
General. In July 1650 they had skirmishes 
with the enemy when Lambert was badly 
wounded, his horse shot unaer him, and him- 
self taken prisoner but rescued by Lieutenant 
Empson. On the 3rd September 1650, was 
fought the battle of Dunbar, led on by Gen- 
eral Lambert, who was now evidently held 
in great favour by Cromwell. On Dec. 1st 
of the same year he routed Col. Ker, at 
Hamiltire. and in April 1651, he routed 
General Brown. In 1653 he was made one 
of Cromwell's first Council, and in 1655 a 
General of Counties. On the crown being 
offered to Oliver Cromwell, he was among 
those who declared against the title of King 
(which Cromwell is believed to have secretly 
favoured). On which he was dismissed with 
a pension of .£2,000 a year. 

After the death of Cromwell and the end 
of his rule, the people became divided, some 
were for the Commonwealth, and some for 
the King; when taking advantage of these 
dissentions General Lambert arose with an 
army at his back, " concealing under the 
pretence of re-establishing the Common- 
wealth his secret design of seizing upon the 
supreme authority for himself." These de- 
signs, if real, were however circumvented, 
for on the first of Jan., 1660, Lord Fairfax 
placed himself at the head of the Yorkshire 
forces, declared for Charles 2nd, and routed 
Lambert's army without bloodshed, his 
troops one after another deserting him and 



See " History of Pontefract. 



91 



NOTE.— GENERAL LAMBERT. 



: 



and declaring for their old general. This 
activity of Lambert was considered by 
Charles the Second as only of the " mis- 
chievous sort," and was not forgotten at the 
Restoration. He was put upon his trial, but 
Whitaker relates that although he was found 
guilty, his " decent and respectful behaviour 
procured for him the mild sentence of per- 
petual exile to Guernsey, where he amused 
himself with the quiet occupation of garden- 
ing, and died almost forgotten thirty years 
.after, having lost his faculties before the 
usual period of mental decay. But the 
mind of Lambert was a machine, wasted first 
by friction, and then by rust." 

As a general he seems to have been acute, 
moderate, and victorious ; but if report speaks 
the truthj his conduct at times accorded with 
the crest on the hilt of his sword. 

In a curious work with the Imprimatur, 
" Jan. 31, 1644. Ja. Cranford," kindly lent 
me by the owner, Mr. Hill of Bowling, I 
find the following passages : — 

u About the second also of this instant 
(March 1644, New Style) (as another rich 
return of prayer, even within two dayes after 
the last monthly fast-day) came certaine in- 
telligence out of* Yorkeshire to London, of a 
brave victory obtained (through the mercy 
of our good God) by that valient commander, 
Colonel Lambert, under the command of Sir 
Thomas Fairfax, in the West-Riding of 
Yorkeshire, not farre from Bradford, where 
the Bradford Garrison understanding, that 
Colonel Lambert advanced that way, to re- 
duce that towne to the service of the Parlia- 
ment, they presently sent intelligence of this 
his resolution to Yorke, as also of the weak- 
nesse of this Colonels condition : whereupon 
a commanded power of Horse and Foot ^led 
by Colonell John Bellasis, Governour of 
Yorke) farre exceeding Colonell Lamberts 
forces (at least three to one) in numbers was 
forthwith dispatched to releive them. In 
briefe, both parties faced each other not farre 
from Bradford, and Colonell Lamberts For- 
ces though lesse in number, did exceed in 
valour (for, indeed, as reverend Master Jen- 
kins, Pastour of Christ Church in London, 
sweetly said, " Wee have oftentimes known 
that God hath had too many to fight his bat- 
tailes, but never too few") and the encounter 
grew exceeding hot; and for 7 howres space, 
the thundring disputation was fiercely con- 
tinued; at length (by God's great mercy) 
Colonell Lambert percieved he had the 
better of his enemies; but yet, his necessity 
was such, that for want of Powder, he knew 
not what to do ; for, none of his souldiers 
had, at the most, above two charges left. 

92 



Hereupon a Councill of Warre, was sudainl y 
called, and as suddenly it was agreed, that 
before they would offer any parley to the 
enemy, the Horse should charge once more; 
which in that desperat exigence, was per- 
formed with such undaunted courage, and 
resolution of spirit that the Enemies Horse 
was not able to withstand the shock, began a 
little to give ground, which our Cavalry soone 
observing they followed the advantage, with 
so much impregnable courage, that they 
forced them to. very disorderly retreat, and 
our Foot taking notice of the brave action 
and advantage their Horse had gotten, so 
valiently charged the body of the enemies 
Infantry, who percieving their own Horse to 
abandon them, began to leave the Field, and 
swiftly retire toward Yorke, even with what 
confused speed they possibly could. The 
brave successful Colonell Lambert could not 
follow them in pursuit, by reason of the great 
want of Powder, in which at that present he 
was. 

But he tooke Prisoners in the fight, Col- 
onell John Girlington, and divers other 
Officers in Amies, and persons of Quality, 
and ahout ICO Common Soldiers; Colonell 
Bellasis himselfe being shrewdly put to the 
switch and Spurre to escape; there were 
above an hundred slaine in the place. And " 
thus this valient Colonell Lambert after this 
defeat, and brave Victory so fortuneately 
atchieved, presently entered into Bradford, 
and re-garrison'd it for the use of Parlia- 
ment." Page 168. 

" Another Brave Prize Taken By Colonel 

Lambert. 

About the 18th of this instant (March 
1644, N.S.) came yet further intellegence 
by letter out of Yorkeshire to London, that, 
that brave and valient Commander Col: 
Lambert (since his famous Victory at Brad- 
ford) bearing that a party were gathering 
against him to oppose him, in the West- 
Riding of Yorkeshire, he drew out his forces 
to meet them, and discovering the enemy 
neare Kirkelesse consisting of about 13. 
troopes of the Earle of Newcastles, as good 
as they could make up for the det«igne: 
Col. Lambert presently drew out a small 
partie, which he sent upon the forlorne hope 
to draw the enemy into a noose, who dis- 
covering onely a small party of our men, 
they marched toward them. Hereupon our 
men began to retreat, the enemy followed ; 
in which interim, brave Colonell Lambert 
having wisely carryed the businesse, had 
placed a party on each side the enemy, so as 
they were surrounded ere they were aware. 
Whereupon, with very little harme the vali- 



JOHN SHARP, D.D., LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 



ent Colonell surprized and cooped them up 
on three sides, and there being a river on the 
fourth side, they all became his prisoners 
irresistabiy, save only two or three who ad- 
ventured to swim over the river, who whe- 
ther they were drowned or not was uncer- 
taine, for the river was deepe and dangerous ; 
the noble Colonell tooke prisoners at this 
time, 4 Lieut. Colonells and Serjeant Ma- 
jors, 7. Captaines, 11. Cornets 300. Souldiers 
and other Officers, with other purchase and 
prizes which the enemy had pillaged in the 
Country ; a sore pull from them, and a faire 
strengthening of us, blessed be the Lord for 
it." Page 170. 

*' Still Another Victory By Colonel Lambert. 

M Much also about the same time, (2nd 
April 1644, N.S.) came credible information 
by letters out of Yorkeshire to London, 
that Colonell Bellasis, Governour of York, 
marched out thence, toward Bradford, where 
his Victorious Antagonist, brave Colonell 
Lambert, lay with his Regiment, which, 
Bellasis intended and hoped to have an op- 
portunity to set upon and surprise. But the 
Vigilent. Colonell having timely warning of 
his comming, sallyed out of the Town to 
meet the Enemj r ; after a little faceing one 
another, Colonell Lambert warily percieving 
that that Enemy were too numerous a partee 
for him to encounter with, thought it not 
safe to advance beyond his works, whereunto 
he discreetly retreated, and there maintained 
the fight very valiently, and beat off the 
assailants with their losse, having kil'd and 
wounded so many that the enemy was forced 
to a hasty retreat, which the valient Col- 
onell soon percieveing, pursued them there- 
in, at least six miles, in which Action Col- 
onel Lambert took 200 Horse and furniture, 
and a 100 Foot, and took Colonell Bagshaw, 
a notorious Lancashire Papist, 8 Captains 
and other Officers and Commanders." Page 
199. 

The Work from which the above ex- 
tracts are taken is entitled: — "God's Arke, 
Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Or The 
Third Part of the Parliamentary Chronicle, 
from July 1643. to July 1644. Collected 
and Published for God's High Honour and 
the great encouragement of all that are — 
Zealous for God and Lovers of their Country. 
By the most unworthy admirer of them. 
John Vicars. London Printed by M. 
Simon's, and John Macock for Michall 
Spark 1644." 

No doubt much interesting information 
might be gathered from a perusal of the 



whole of this work, respecting Bradford 
during the Civil, or rather uncivil Wars of 
1642 and 43. I have only seen a single 
volume, the third part, but the others are 
most likely in the British Museum ; and 
should any reader of these Collectanea have 
access to that place, I should feel obliged 
for copies of any other passages relating to 
Bradford. 



MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 

John Sharp, D.D., Lord Archbishop 
of York. 

It is a pleasant thought that our first 
notice of Eminent Persons in Bradford- dale, 
should begin with one so good and eminent, 
as this learned and eloquent Archbishop of 
York. The bosom friend of John Tillotson, 
D.D., of Sowerby Bridge, who was appointed 
Dean of St. Paul's, and afterwards elevated 
to be Archbishop of Canterbury, — John 
Sharp, not to be behind hand with his friend, 
was appointed to the Deanery of Canterbury, 
and then to the Archbishopric of his Dative 
county. 

" He was the son of Thomas Sharp, of 
Bradford, by Dorothy, the eldest daughter 
of Mr. John Weddal, of Widdington, in 
the county of York, a younger branch of 
the Weddal's, of Earswick, near York. Her 
mother was a daughter of the family of the 
Cutt's, of Childerly, in Cambridgeshire. 

His father, Mr. Thomas Sharp, was the 
son of the owner of an estate called Wood- 
house, near Bradford, being a younger branch 
of the Sharps, of Little Horton, in the same 
neighbourhood : among whom there had been 
kept up, as Mr. Ralph Thoresby says, not 
only a succession of Thomas and John alter- 
nately for many generations, but, what was 
much more for their credit, a taste for letters 
and polite studies; for there were some 
among them who were considerable for their 
writings, insomuch that, he adds, it is rare to 
meet with so many of the learned authors so 
nearly allied. He tells us likewise, that the 
family of the Sharp's had been very ancient 
in Bradford-dale; but that all the writings 
(except some registers) by which any further 
knowledge of them might have been gained, 
were lost or destroyed at the taking of Brad- 
ford, in the Civil Wars. A loss of no great 
consequence to the Archbishop's character: 
for it matters not to his character, whether 
his ancestors were of little note and figure in 
then age, or were ever so illustrious. 

93 



JOHN SHARP, D.D., LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 



John Sharp was born at Bradford, in Ive- 
gate,next door to the house where the Unicorn 
Inn nowstands, on Shrove-Tuesday, Feb. 16, 
1644, and was baptized there by Mr. Blazet, 
a person episcopally ordained. Probably 
vicar, or a curate of our parish church. 
His sponsors were Mr. "Weddal, Mr. Drake, 
and Mrs. Cordingley. His father and mo- 
ther were religious, honest, and hospitable 
people, and beloved in their neighbourhood ; 
but yet in a different way of thinking from 
each other upon the disputes of those days. 
His father was not a little inclined to Purit- 
anism according to the temper of those times, 
and much favoured the parliament party, 
and was himself in great favour with the 
Lord Fairfax, who made his head- quarters 
at his house in Bradford, and shewed him all 
the kindness, and did him all the service 
that he could. — Among other expressions of 
bis favour, his lordship offered him a com- 
mission, which probably he had accepted, 
had not his wife, who was a strenuous royal- 
ist, persuaded him, with great difficulty, not 
to accept it. During these turbulent times, 
it was her particular care to instil her own 
principles of loyalty to the king, and esteem 
for the liturgy, into her son John, who was 
their eldest, child. She had, with some 
hazard of Lord Fairfax s displeasure, and 
notwithstanding all searches made for the 
common prayer-books, preserved those of her 
family; one of which she put early into her 
son's hands, and taught him to love and value 
it. He used to declare, that while he was 
yet a boy, he much admired some of the 
offices, and particularly the litany, with 
which he was much affected, as. indeed, he 
seemed to be all his life after; for it was 
read every morning in his own family, at the 
early prayers, as long as he lived. 

But he was no less indebted to his father's 
piety for some happy and lasting impressions 
that it made upon him, than to his mother's 
care and instructions. If she first tauyht 
him to love the letter of the liturgy, yet it 
was from his father that he first admired, and 
became desirous of being endowed with a 
spirit of devotion, and that by accident ; for 
his chamber being next his father's, gave him 
an opportunity, of frequently seeing his 
father at his private prayers. His first at- 
tention to what he saw might only be the 
effect of a childish curiosity ; but, neverthe- 
less, there was something he noted in his 
father's manner of addressing himself to God 
— something that smote his fancy so power- 
fully — that he was wont to say to himself, 
that the impressions he got whilst a child, 
from the visible earnestness and importun.icy 

94 



of his father in his devotions, were so strong 
as never to be worn out afterwards. 

But he had also imbibed from his father 
the doctrine of Calvin -about absolute and 
irreversible decrees of predestination and 
reprobation, insomuch, that he went up to 
the University a rigid predesM'narian, and 
thought himself able to vindicate the hardest 
point of their doctrine, and to prove that 
absolute reprobation manifested God's glory, 
as it shewed his dominion over his creatures ; 
but his tutor took some pains with him upon 
this head : and by putting some questions 
seriously to him, as whether he thought it 
any glory to himself to tread out the life of 
a poor worm ? and others of the like nature, 
(which would lead him to reflect, that the 
glory of the Supreme Being could not pos- 
sibly consist in any of those things which 
would not so much as make for the glory of 
finite beings,) he brought him by degrees to 
change his sentiments, and put him in a 
better way of thinking, whicli, in his riper 
years, he constantly pursued, wtbout any 
tincture or remains of the first prejudices of 
education. 

Whilst he continued at Bradford School, 
his father had him instructed in writing 
short-hand, that he might take down in 
notes the preachments of those times; and 
he made him every Sunday, in the evening, 
repeat to the family from his short-hand copy, 
all that had been delivered that day to the 
congregation It may readily be guessed 
what a tedious task this was. However, it 
was attended with an advantage which he 
valued ever after, viz. a perfect knowledge 
and command of the cypher, of which he 
sufficiently experienced the benefit when he 
became a preacher himself. 

He never was at any other school than 
Bradford ; — either his natural genius, or his 
industry, or both, made amends for all defi- 
ciencesof that school, and supplied the place 
of a more advantageous education. It is 
certain that he had made si.ch progress in 
school learning, at fifteen years of age, that 
his father was determined to complete his 
education, and send him directly :o the Uni- 
versity, and to maintain him there seven 
years, and that not in a penurious way, 
which might ciamp his studies, but with as 
liberal a hand as he was able, considering 
that he had five children more to provide for 
out of the profits of his trade. 

He was admitted of Christ's College in 
Cambridge, on April 26, ltffiO, just before 
the restoration of King Charles the Second, 
under the tuition of Mr. Brook<bank, who 



JOHN SHARP, D.D., LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 



was an acquaintance of his father's, and 
took no small pains in discharging the trust 
reposed in him. He encouraged his young 
pupil to resort freely to him tor a solution of 
whatever difficulties he met with in the 
course of his studies ; and, accordingly, when 
be went to lectures at night in his tutor's 
chamber, he constantly carried in his pocket 
a paper of questions, which had arisen from 
what he had read that day; and when the 
other pupils were dismissed, these matters 
were discussed and resolved. 

Mr. Brooksbank lived to receive some 
recompense for the great care he took of his 
pupil at this time ; for when Dr. Sharp was 
Archdeacon of Berks, he procured for his 
tutor, by the interest of the Lord Chancellor, 
the living of St. Mary's, in Reading, within 
his own Archdeaconry : and afterwards, he 
would have resigned the archdeaconry itself, 
in hopes of obtaining the favour that Mr. 
Brooksbank might .succeed him in that dig- 
nity; but though the bishop would not 
grant this request, yet he so far complied 
with it, as to give Mr. Brooksbank a pre- 
bend in Salisbury*. 

Besides the course of studies pursued 
under his tutor, he heard lectures on Natural 
Philosophy from Dr. Thomas Burnet, after- 
wards Master of the Charter-house, but 
then fellow of Christ's College, who taught 
the Cartesian philosophy. He also studied 
the new philosophy of Sir Isaac Newton, 
and always spoke of it with great delight, as 
setting forth the Creator in the most beauti- 
ful light that it was possible for us to con- 
ceive him in. He also studied chemistry, 
botany, and physics, and embodied his ex- 
periments in two books written out carefully 
with his own hand. Soon after his arrival 
in Cambridge his health suffered from a 
quartan-ague, and he was obliged to return 
for some time into Yorkshire, where he seems 
to have recovered. He believed it to have 
been brought on by his early rising to pursue 
his studies and bathing too often in the 
evening. In 1663 he began to study di- 
vinity, and applied himself closely to Dr. 
Lightfoot's Harmony, and Grotius upon the 
Gospels. In the same year he performed 
all his exercise for his bachelor's degree, and 
commenced the winter following. He had 
no college preferment until his fourth year 
and was disabled from obtaining a fellowship 
on account of his county, though the master 
and all the fellows were his friends. 



* Afterwards Vicar of Bradford, where he 
remained from 1667 to 77, when he died. 



While at college, his graceful, distinct, 
and proper manner of reading the lessons of 
Scripture, when bachelor of arts, first brought 
him under the notice of that great divine 
and philosopher, Dr. Henry More, that it 
gained him a friend without his knowledge, 
and preferment without his expectation. 
For having taken his master's degree in 
1667, and his leave of the University, he 
retired into Yorkshire to prosecute his 
studies, with less expense to his father ; — 
and it happened, in the mean time, that Sir 
Heneage Finch, then Solicitor-general, wrote 
to Dr. H. More to recommend to him a 
person who should be his domestic chaplain 
and tutor to his sons. The Doctor pleased 
with such an opportunity of testifying the 
esteem he had for him, recommended Mr. 
Sharp, knowing bis abilities to be equal to 
that charge. This was his first step in the 
world, and on the 12th of August, 1667, he 
entered into holy orders, and was ordained 
deacon and priest on the same day. From 
the time of his being called into the Solici- 
tor-general's family he spent his time very 
happily, and much to his own improvement. 
Two of the sons of his patron after- 
wards took holy orders, and when Mr. 
Sharp became archbishop were at length 
dignitaries in his Cathedral at York. Mr. 
Sharp was incorporated Master of Arts at 
Oxford in the year 1669, and it seems he 
finished a comment upon Genesis and part 
of Exodus in this year which proves him to 
have been an expert Greek and Hebrew 
scholar. This, close application to his studies, 
and at such unseasonable hours, injured his 
health and constitution, and he was forced 
to return again to Bradford ; and this visit 
gave him an opportunity of taking his last 
leave of his father, who was then in declin- 
ing health, and died about a month after he 
left him, in the sixty-third year of his age. 
He still continued to be chaplain to Sir 
Heneage Finch, and one day after Mr. Sharp's 
return to court he was informed that the 
king had conferred on him the Archdeaconry 
of Berkshire. He then retired to Salisbury 
and took possession, and in the same year 
Sir Heneage was made Lord Keeper, and 
created Earl of Nottingham, Mr. Sharp still 
continuing chaplain to his family. Occupy- 
ing the position he did in the Earl's family 
he had many opportunities of doing kind 
acts to poor aud worthy clergymen whereby 
he gained many friends. His patron did not 
stop in his acts of kindness by the presenta- 
tion of the archdeaconry, for in 1675, while 
he was yet Lord Keeper he presented his 
chaplain with three preferments. The first 
was a piebend of Norwich, second the living 

95 



JOHN SHARP, H.D., LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 



of St. Bartholomew's Exchange, and third 
the rectory of St. Giles in the Fields. 

Towards the end of the Spring following, 
Mr. Sharp married Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer, 
of the Palmer's of Winthorp, in Lincoln- 
shire ; her mother was the heiress of the 
Halton's, another ancient family. This lady 
was recommended to Mr. Sharp by Mr. 
Rawlinson one of the Lords Commissioners 
of the Great Seal, who had married her 
sister. But Mrs. Mosley, having passed the 
prime of her life in the late times, was a 
Puritan, and a particular friend and admirer 
of the famous Kichard Baxter, would not 
consent to this treaty for her daughter, till 
she had consulted him. She did so: and 
Mr. Baxter not only consented and approved 
of the proposal, but such was his esteem for 
him, that he told her, had he a daughter of 
his own to dispose of, he would not refuse 
her to Mr. Sharp.* This put an end at 
once to all Mrs. Mosley 's difficulties, and 
the marriage was soon solemnized at Clerken- 
well Church, by Dr. John Tillotson. 

The first occasion of his becoming ac- 
quainted with Dr. Tillotson was this : — Not 
long after he came out of Yorkshire into 
Sir Heneage's family, going to Mr. Joseph 
Tillotson, the Doctor's brother, a wet and 
dry Salter, or oil drawer, in London, with a 
bill from his father, Sharp, who was of the 
same trade in Bradford, he there happened 
to meet with the Doctor himself; who find- 
ing him to be a countryman and a clergy- 
man, setting out in the world, did out of his 
usual goodness and humanity, take particu- 
lar notice o"f him, and entreat him courte- 
ously ; the end of which was that he invited 
him to his house, and to have recourse to 
him as often as he thought he might be of 
service to him. Thus commenced a friend- 
ship which lasted until death. The two first 
sermons that he printed were preached be- 
fore the Lord Mayor; the third, before the 
House of Commons, on April 11, 1679 ; but 
that which tended most to advance his char- 
acter in the pulpit, was his taking the Friday 
lecture at St. Lawrence's jury, which he did 
March 28th, 1679, where there was not so 
much a congregation of people, as a con- 
vention of divines who attended those lec- 
tures from the time that Dr. Tillotson had 
successfully led the way in reforming the 
way and method of composures for the pul- 



* Mr. Baxter lived in great friendship 
with him for many years, and used to attend 
at his church at service and sermons, and at 
his sacraments. His reasons for so doing 
may be found in his life bv- Silvester, p. 437. 

96 



pit. Being now of Doctor's standing in the 
University, and a dignitary, as well as a 
minister in one of the largest parishes in 
town, he thought the taking his degree was a 
debt he owed to his character and prefer- 
ments in the church. He therefore went 
down to Cambridge, and was admitted by 
Dr. Turner, the Vice Chancellor; and in 
July, was created Doctor in Divinity by 
proxy. The next year, 1680, he published 
three sermons more; one entitled ''The 
doing Good in our Lives," that it is every 
Man's great Concernment, and in every 
Man's Power; preached at the Yorkshire 
Feast, in Bow Church, Feb. 17th. (From 
this excellent sermon I reprint a portion, 
that my readers may judge of his style and 
manner of discoursing.) At this time he re- 
sided in Great Russell Street, London near 
his own church, where he continued for six- 
teen years The learned Bishop Burnet, in 
his History of his Times, vol. 1, p. 674, says 
of Dr. Sharp, and his preaching : — " He was 
a very pious man and one of the most popu- 
lar preachers of the age, who had a peculiar 
talent of reading his Sermons — with much 
life and zeal." Bishop Burnet himself al- 
ways preached extempore, and very likely 
felt a little proud of this, hence the latter 
part of his remarks. 

He was still residing in his house in Great 
Russell Street, when in the year 1681, his 
Majesty, King Charles, was pleased to be- 
stow a mark of his royal favour upon him, 
by presenting to him the Deanery of Nor- 
wich, vacant by the death of Dr. Astley. 
This preferment which was very acceptable 
to him, was obtained for him at the interces- 
sion of the Duke of York, the Lord Arling- 
ton, and his patron the Lord Chancellor. 
Towards the latter end of the year 1682, 
died his friend Sir John Finch ; and within 
a month after his beloved lord and patron, 
the Earl of Nottingham : each of them 
leaving him legacies, as tokens of their 
esteem and friendship for him. In the fol- 
lowing year, 1683, he wrote his first book 
about Conscience, at the desire of the Bishop 
of London. This book arose out of a dis- 
pute he had with the Dissenters, about Con- 
formity, which he himself had undesignedly 
opened near ten years before. He had in 
1674, preached before the Lord Mayor of 
London, at Guildhall Chapel, upon the 
subject of the Dissenters separation from 
the Established Church, which his lordehip 
desired might be printed, and so it was, and 
is the first sermon in his collection. He 
undertook in it the following propositions — 
I. That every Christian, upon the very 
account of his being bo, is a member of the 



JOHN SHARP, D.D., LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 



Church of Christ, and is bound to join in 
external communion where it can be had. 

II. That every one is bound to join in 
communion with the Established .National 
Church to which he belongs, supposing there 
be nothing in the terms of its communion 
that renders it unlawful for him to do so. 

III. That the being a member of any 
church, doth oblige a man to submit to all 
the laws and constitutions of that church. 

IV. That we can have no just cause of 
withdrawing our communion from the church 
whereof we are members, but when we can- 
not communicate with it without the com- 
mission of a sin. 

V. That though we have a just cause to 
refuse communion with the church whereof 
we are members, in some instances ; yet we 
are not therefore to proceed to so total a 
separation from it, as to erect new churches 
in contradistinction to it, or to join with 
those that do. This is never to be done 
unless a church be so corrupted in doctrine 
and practice, that the salvation of all who 
communicate with her, is thereby endangered. 

This sermon had not been long in print 
before it was attacked by an anonymous 
wiiter, (supposed to be Mr. Wadsworth,) a 
Mr. Dodwell undertaking the defence of Mr. 
Sharp's discourse. On the death of King 
Charles, and the accession of his brother to 
the throne, Mr. Sharp was desired to draw 
up the Address of the Grand Jury for the 
City of London, upon the King's happy 
accession, and at the coronation he was one 
that walked among the chaplains and digni- 
taries that attended the solemnity. The 
next year, 1686, Dr Sharp fell under the 
displeasure of the king, for treating upon 
some points in the Romish controversy (then 
going on) in the pulpit. Whereby a handle 
was given to the court of proceeding against 
the Bishop of London, who for refusing to 
suspend the Doctor was himself suspended 
by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Father 
Orleans in his History of the Revolutions in 
England, tells us that this affair of Dr. 
Sharp's, in which his diocesan was involved, 
gave rise to the Ecclesiastical Commission, 
the effects of which proved afterwards so 
predjudicial to the king and his affairs. In 
168S, Jan. 27, he preached before the Prince 
of Orange, by order of the convention opened 
Jan. 24. This was during the debates then 
going on upon the great and important sub- 
ject of the king's abdication and vacancy of 
the throne. On the 30th he preached before 
the House of Commons, and in his prayer 
on both occasions he did as usual pray for 
Kiuy James. This gave offence to many, 
and a debate ensued in parliament which 

Holroyd's Collectanea, No. 7 



lasted the whole eveniug, but the debate 
came to nothing. But it should be remem- 
bered that although the Commons bad passed 
the deed of abdication, the Lords had not, at 
the time. These traits in the Dr. show how 
entirely honest he was. doing what he thought 
to be right, regardless of consequences* 

"In the affairs of the Revolution he took 
no active part, nor did he quit allegiance to 
James till both houses of parliament had 
declared that the Crown was vacant. 

Lord Nottingham, the son of his old 
patron, being one of King William's coun- 
cillors, by his influence secured for Sharp, 
in 1689, the deanery of Canterbury, vacant 
by the promotion of Tillotson. In the .sum- 
mer of 1690, our author visited Bradford, 
where his mother resided. On his return to 
London, the King offered him the choice of 
one of the sees vacant by the deprivatiou of 
their bishops. He, however, waved the 
honour from conscientious scruples, which so 
offended his Majesty, that in all probability 
Sharp would have forfeited all further court 
favours, had not Tillotson in this respect 
greatly exerted himself in his favour ; and 
with a disinterestedness which sheds lustre 
on his character, persuaded Sharp to consent 
that the King should be solicited for the 
Arcbishopricof York when it became va- 
cant. By the joint interest of Tillotson and 
Lord Nottingham the boon was gained, and 
in about a fortnight after the aged Arch- 
bishop of York dying, Sharp obtained that 
see. It is pleasing to relate that before his 
consecration, he assisted at that of his friend 
Tillotson to the see of Canterbury, who also 
performed the ceremony on Sharp. 

He was inthe47th year of his age when he 
mounted the Archiepiscopal throne of York.^ 
And henceforward the twenty- three years of 
his life were faithfully appropriated to the 
discharge of the high offices of his station. 
For this period his course may, for the pur- 
poses of this work, be rapidly sketched. 

Our Primate administered with a bold 
and firm hand the affairs of his province. 
He laid down as an inflexible rule, that all 
• the prebends of York Minister should be 
disrributed among the most worthy clergy - 

* Abridged from the " Life of John Sharp, 
D.D., Lord Archbishop of York. Collected 
from his Diary, Letters, etc., by Thomas 
Sharp, D.D., Archdeacon of Northumber- 
land. Edited by Thomas Newcome, M.A., 
Rector of Shenley, Herts. In 2 vols. Lou- 
don, C. & J. Rivington, 1825. 786 pp., and 
Portraits of John Sharp, and Thomas Sharp, 
his son." The remainder is from Mr. 
James's notic: of him. 



JOHN SHARP, D.D., LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 



men of his diocese ; and took great pains in 
watching the conduct of his clergy, and 
admonishing such as did not conduct them- 
selves as became their sacred character. He 
was a scrupulous censor of manners ; and 
for the purpose of repressing offendors, made 
too much use of that very objectionable in- 
strument — the Spiritual Court. His conduct 
in this respect was, though well intentioned, 
and springing from a laudable desire to re- 
press immorality, sometimes ludicrous; and 
when I reflect on it, the spirited description 
given by our old English bard in his Canter- 
bury Tales, of apparitors and the courts to 
which they belong, rushes into my mind. 

The Archbishop was in great favour with 
Queen Anne, who appointed him her Al- 
moner. He enjoyed more of her confidence 
than any other man of bis cloth ; and she 
consulted him on all occasions when any 
church preferment in the gift of the Crown 
had to be filled up. It is a well-known fact 
in literary history that Swift lost an English 
bishopric, and was exiled to the deanery of 
St. Patrick, through the influence of Arch- 
bishop Sharp. To this Swift alludes in a 
poem entitled " The Author upon himself, 
1713." Sharp thought (as all other men 
think) that a man of Swift's libertine opini- 
ons and life would disgrace the Church by 
being thrust into a bishopric, however worthy 
of it on account of learning and talents. 
Archbishop Sharp was a partizan of the Tory 
side of the House of Lords, and in this he 
accorded with the taste of bis Royal Mis- 
tress. He spoke seldom in the House of 
Lords. The specimens of his oratory there, 
which have descended to us, are very clear, 
and devoid of all ornament. 

He died at Bath] on the 2nd of February, 
1713, aged sixty-nine years ; his body being 
brought and deposited in St. Mary's Chapel, 
York Minster, where a sumptuous monu- 
ment, with a beautiful Latin inscription to 
his memory by Dr. Smalridge, was erected 
over him by his executors. An engraving of 
it is given in Drake's " Eboracum." 

He was dark in complexion, and naturally 
choleric in temperament, but this infirmity he 
almost eradicated by a long habit of control 
which he had gained over all his passions 
and frailties. It will never be disputed that 
Archbishop Sharp was a man of real piety — 
far from avaricious ; affable to inferiors, kind 
to his clergy — especially those of merit, and 
of great honesty of purpose. 

His sermons, like those of Tillotson, still 
retain a high distinction in the department 
of literature to which they belong. Dr. 
Felton, in his " Dissersation on reading the 
Classics,'' proposes rhem as a model for 

.08 



forming a pure style. They are quite uuor- 
namented, but very few writers exceeded 
him in that cardinal requisite of good com- 
position — perspicuity of expression. The 
sermons of Archbishop Sharp, however, lose 
much of that excellence which they posses- 
sed when delivered by him, as he was a per- 
fect master of a graceful and impressive 
delivery. 

Of his other works, I have seen a MS. 
account by him of English, Scotch, and 
other coins, which was published in Mr. 
Ives's Select Papers. Another paper of his, 
entitled " Observations on the Coinage of 
England," is published in the 35th number 
of the u Bibliotheca Topographica Britan- 
nica." He excelled in the knowledge of 
coins, and had formed a collection equalled 
by few of his day. 

He also collected, principally from Torre's 
MSS-, a Parochial History of his Diocese. 
Torre's Digest of the Archbishops of York's 
Registers fell into his hands, and were on his 
death given by his executors to the dean and 
chapter of York ; and from the manner they 
are kept, and made profit of, this gift must 
ever be considered as a great loss to York- 
shire topography. 

He had issue, fourteen children, only four 
of whom, two sons and two daughters, sur- 
vived him." 



"OF DOING GOOD IN OUR LIVES." 

Specimen of John Sharp's Style op 
Discoursing, being part of his Sermon 
on the above subject, from the tfixt : — 

Eccles. Ill, 12. " I know that there is no 
good in them, but for a Man to rejoice, and 
to do good in his Life." 

Preached at the Yorkshire Feast, 1680. 



u A great many there are, that are as 
strongly convinced as may be, that 'tis both 
their Interest and Duty to be doing good in 
their Lives ; but they complain that it is 
not in their Power, they have not any 
Means or Opportunities for it, and they 
bemoan themselves sadly upon this Ac- 
count, as thinking their Lives useless, be- 
cause they have not those visible Capacities 
of being serviceable to the World that 
others have. 



SPECIMEN OF JOHN SHARP'S SERMONS. 



To such as these, let me say this in the 
General : There is no Condition in the 
World so mean and despicable, but yields 
us Opportunities of doing Good. There is 
neither Old nor Young, Man nor Woman, 
Rich nor Poor, High nor Low, Learned nor 
Unlearned, but in their Sphere, by a good 
Husbandry of those Talents that God has 
intrusted to their Care and Management, 
they may be very useful to others, and prove 
Instruments of much Good in their Gener- 
ations. 

This Truth St. Paul most elegantly sets 
forth in I Cor. 12. where he compares the 
Society of Christians to a natural Body. 
There he shews, that as in the natural 
Body there are many Members, and all 
those Members have not the same Dignity 
and Honour, nor the same Use or Office ; 
and yet every Member (even the meanest) 
hath its particular Use, by which it doth 
real Service to the Body ; nay, so useful it 
is, that the Body cannot be without it: So 
it is with the Church of Christ, and with 
every Body Politick. There is a Necessity 
both in the Church and in the State, 
that there should be variety of Functions 
aad Callings, and Degrees and Conditions. 
There must be some to govern, and some to 
be governed; there must be some more 
conspicuous, some more obscure; some 
whose Gifts and Endowments lie this way, 
and some whose Talents lie in another way ; 
and yet there is not one of these but in his 
Degree and Station, either is or may be as 
useful as any that belong to the Society. So 
that the Eye cannot say to the Hand (as 
our Apostle there expresseth it) I have no 
need of thee. Nor again, the Head to the 
Feet, I have no need of yon : Nay, more, 
those Members of the Body (as he continues) 
that seem to be most feeble, are yet very 
necessary. 

To reduce the Apostle's Notion to its 
Particulars, or to shew in how many Re- 
spects every individual Person that is a 
Member of a Society, is necessary to the 
Publick, and either doth or may serve the 
Weal of it and so do Good in his Life, is a 
Task too great for me to undertake at this 
Time ; let it suffice at the present, to pro- 
pose to you these General Heads. 

First, of all, None can want Opportunities 
cf doing Good that is in a Capacity of 
performing any Acts of Mercy or Charity, 
strictly so called, whether that Chanty be 
shew'd to the Bodies or Souls of Men. Now 
the Instances and Expressions of this way 
of doing Good are infinite, as infinite as are 
the Wants and Necessities of Mankind. 
To the Bodies of Men we do Good, when- 



ever we contribute to the relieving and 
easing them of the outward Pressures and 
Wants, and Necessities they lie under : Such 
as Sickness, Pain, Poverty, Hunger, Naked- 
ness, Debts, Imprisonment, or any other 
outward Affliction that falls upon them ; 
whether that Ease and Relief be effected by 
our Purse, or by our Counsel and Advice, or 
by our Labour and Pains. 

And sure some of these Three Things, 
there is none so mean or inconsiderable in 
the World, but it is in his Power to benefit 
his poor Neighbour with. 

To the Souls of Men we do Good, when- 
ever by our Discourses or other Endeavours, 
we make M en better or wiser ; when we 
instruct the Ignorant, when we satisfie the 
Doubtful, when we reduce those that are 
misled by Error, when we establish the 
Weak, when we reprove those that do amiss; 
in a Word, all our Attempts and Endea- 
vours, in what way soever, to reclaim from 
Vice, and to bring them to Wisdom and 
Sobriety, is a Charity to their Souls ; and 
whether our Designs succeed or not, we shall 
be rewarded as those that have done Good 
in the World. 

Secondly, All the Acts of Beneficence and 
Kindness, nay, even of Civility and Good- 
nature, are to be accounted among the 
Instances of doing Good. A Man doth 
Good, not only by Acts of Charity properly 
so called, but by every Courtesie that he 
doth to another; he doth Good, by shewing 
his Respect and good Will to all about him, 
by reconciling Differences among Neigh- 
bours, and promoting Peace, Friendship and 
Society, as much as he can ; by being 
Generous and Liberal and Hospitable, ac- 
cording to his Ability ; by forgiving Injuries, 
and if it be possible, making Friends of those 
that did them ; by being easie of Access, 
and sweet and obliging in his Carriage ; by 
complying with the Infirmities of those he 
converseth with ; and, in a Word, by con- 
tributing any way to make the Lives of 
others more easie and comfortable to 
them. 

Thirdly, A Man also doth Good, when 
he makes use of that Acquaintance or 
Friendship or Interest that he hath with 
others, to stir them up to the doing of that 
Good, which he by the Narrowness of his 
Condition, or for want of Opportunity can- 
not do himself. This is a very considerable 
Instance of doing Good, how slight soever 
it may seem ; the Man that exercises himself 
this way is doubly a Benefactor ; for he is 
not only an Instrument of Good to the 
Person or Persons tor whom he begg'd the 
Kindness or the Charity, but he does also a 

99 



PEDIGREE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP'S FAMILY. 



real Kindness to the Man himself, whom 
he puts upon the Benefaction ; for God will 
not less reward his good Will for being 
excited by another. 

Fourthly, Another way to do Good, is to 
he careful and diligent, and conscientious in 
the Discharge of all those Publick Offices, 
which we are called upon to execute in the 
Place where we live. How burthensome so- 
ever these be, and how much soever of our 
Time they rob us of, yet God, by calling us 
to them, hath put a Prize into our Hands, (as 
the Wise Man speaks) to do much Good, if 
we have Hearts to make use thereof. 

Fifthly, We do Good when being in a 
private Capacity, we so carry ourselves in all 
the Relations in which we stand as the 
Nnture of the Relation requireth. As for 
Instance, when being Subjects, we conscien- 
tiously obey the Laws of the Kingdom, and 
submit to our Govemours, and promote what 
we can the publick Peace both of Church 
and State. When being Masters of Families, 
we take care of those under our Charge, 
making sufficient Provision both for their 
Souls and Bodies. When being Husbands 
or Wives, we discharge faithfully all the 
Conjugal Duties: When being Parents we 
love our Children, and bring them up in the 
Fear and Nurture of the Lord. When being 
Children, we obey our Parents in all Things. 
When being Servants, we do our Work in 
singleness of Heart, not as Men-pleasers, but 
as those that account they have a Master in 
Heaven. When having contracted Friend- 
ships, we are secret and faithful, and prudent 
in the maintaining and preserving of them ; 
and proportionably in all the other Relations 
that we stand in. All these Things, tho' 
they appear little, yet are they in their 
Degree a real Good and Benefit to Mankind, 
and so necessary, that there is no living 
tolerably without them. 

Sixthly. We also do Good by an honest 
and a diligent Pursuit of our Calling and 
Employment. There is no Art or Trade 
that we are bred to, but if it be a lawful one, 
it may be of great Use to the Publick, and 
by well minding it, and fairly managing it, 
we may render ourselves very profitable 
Members of the Common-wealth. 

Seventhly and Lastly, We may do a great 
deal of Good by our good Examples, by 
being to others Patterns of Piety and Pru- 
dence, of Diligence and Industry, of Peace- 
ablenesa and Loyalty, of Humility, and 
Meekness, and Temperance. In a Word, 
every Man that will make himself Eminent 
in any Vertue, will be a Light to the World, 
his Life will be a constant Sermon, and he 
will prove as effectual a Benefactor to thc^e 

100 



arp. 

30D- 

tion. 

<5ir 



about him by his Example, as others are by 
their Counsels and Exhortations. 

And now all these Things considered, who 
is there among us in such deplorable Circum- 
stances that he can reasonably pretend to 
want Ability or Opportunity to do Good in 
his Life ? Sure I am, he must live in a 
Desert, and have no Communication with 
Mankind, that cannot some or other of these 
Ways be useful and beneficial to them.'" 



AS TO ARCHBISHOP SHARP'S FAMILY. 

The Pedigree of the Sharps, in the History 
of Bradford, so iar as relates to the connect- 
ing link of the families of the Sharps of 
Horton with the kin of Archbishop Sharp, 
was drawn up for me by Wm. Sharp, Esq 
Surgeon, of Bradford, from what were con- 
sidered authentic sources of informati 
Since then I have been convinced by Sir 
Charles George Young. Garter King of 
-Arms, and William Courthope, Somerset 
Herald, that that Pedigree is, as to such 
connecting link, erroneous. It is con- 
solatory to know that the celebrated 
Granville Sharp, a descendant of the 
Archbishop, entered it thus in the books 
of the College ot Arms. The truth is, 
Thoresby was not amenable to the animad- 
versions of Dr. Whitaker, for in his time 
the connecting link could not be found. It 
is evident from his language he had en- 
deavoured to find it. Mr. Courthope in 
a letter to me, observes that the Arch- 
bishop's ancestor, James Sharp, of Horton, 
time of Henry the VIII., was contem- 
porary of Christopher Sharp, of Horton, 
before mentioned, ' and undoubtedly a near 
relative, but every effort to shew the 
relationship failed ; and indeed we ex- 
hausted all source of information. That 
the Archbishop's ancestor was of inferior 
station to Christopher, is shewn by his 
having paid only a fifth part of the a- 
mount of Christopher's amount of tax- 
ation,' to the Subsidy in the time of 
Henry the VIII. 

James Sharp the elder, of Horton, is 
witness to the will of Christ. Sharp, 
of Horton, in ].")30, and of another 
Christ. Sharp, in 1541. I take that he 
is the person mentioned as living 36 
Henry the VIII., in a house at Little 
Horton, then late belonging to Kirkstall 
Abbey. But the great and parent stock 
of the Sharps, of Little Horton, is re- 
presented as a contemporary of this James. 
He is assessed to the Subsidy Roll 



ABRAHAM SHARP, MATHEMATICIAN. 



1545, as possessing £o in goods, and 
is supposed to have d. before 1557, and 
to be succeeded by a son. 

James Sharp, of Little Horton, Clothier. 
He appears to have been m. in 1560. 
He held a farm and lands at Calverley. 
His will was proved 28 Jan., 1590, (O. 
S.) His wife's name was Alice, and 
she was executrix of his will. She was 
buried at Bradford. 12 Feb 1603. He had 
four sous and a da.; (I,) John, living in 
1603; (2,) James Sharp, of Woodhouse, 
in North Bierley, in. before. 1603, Anne 

. His will dated 20 Sep., 1623, d. 

25 Sep. 1623, leaving his wife his execu- 
trix: (3.) Thomas Sharp, a minor, in 
1590, living in 1603; (4,) Isaac a minor 
in 1590, living in 1623; (5,) Grace, m. 
before 1603 to Robert Swayne, of Brad- 
ford. 

The above named James Sharp, of 
Woodhouse, who d. 1623, had two sons, 

I. James, of Woodhouse, the pro- 
genitor of the Sharps of Gildersome. 
He had a son, Abraham, who resided 
at Cutler Heights, and had property 
there. This Abraham had a son 
William, bap. at Tong. 

II. Thomas Sharp, of Bradford, 
Drysalter, b. 26 Oct., 1606, buried 
there 3 Oct., 1670, aged 64, will dated 
5 Sept., 1670. He m. Dorothy, da. 
of John Weddal. She was buried at 
Bradford, 7 Feb., 1695, aged 76. He 
had by her, John, the Archbishop, 
mentioned directly, Thomas, and 
Hannah, who to. John Richardson, of 
Birks ball, Bradford, Attorney-at- 
Law. (See Richardson pedigree.) 
James, and Joshua. 

The Archbishop, bap. by Mr. Blazet, 
Vicar of Bradford, and had for his tutor, 
Abraham Brooksbank, afterwards Vicar 
of Bradford, m. as stated in his ' Life ' 
Elizabeth Palmer. He had two sons, 
(and two das. of whom I have seen no 
other notice) who survived him. 

I. John, M.P., and one of the Board 
of Trade. He m. Anna Maria, da. of 
Charles Hosier, of Wicken park, and 
d. at Grafton Park, 1728, aged 49; 
he left issue, 

1. John Hosier Sharp, his only 
son, who d. in 1734, aged 13 years. 

2. Elizabeth, m. to Thomas 
Prowse, of Axbridge, in the county 
of Somerset, and had a son George, 
who m. his cousin Elizabeth, da. of 
Dr. Thomas Sharp 

II. Thomas Sharp, I. 1693, D.D., 
Archdeacon of Northumberland, d, 



at Durham, 1758, and buried in the 
Cathedral there. He was an excellent 
Hebraist, and distinguished himself in 
the Hutchinsonian controversy. He 
was author of several works. He in. 
Judith, da. of Sir George Wheeler, 
and had issue, 

1. John Sharp, D D., also Arch- 
deacon of Northumberland. He m. 
Mary, da. of Heneage Dering, Dean 
of Ripon, d, at Durham in 1792, 
aged 69, and left an only child, 
Anna Jemima, b- 1762, d. 1816. 

2. Judith, b. 1733, d. 1809. 

3. Thomas perpetual Curate of 
Bamborough, and d. 1772, was suc- 
ceeded by his brother John. 

4. William Sharp, Esq., a noted 
Surgeon, at St. Bartholomew's hos- 
pital, in. Catherine, da. of William 
Barwick, and d. at Fulbam. 1810, 
aged 81, leaving a da., 

Mary, who m. Lloyd Baker, of 
Hardwick, Gloucestershire, and 
d. leaving issue. 

5. Elizabeth, m. to her cousin, 
George Prowse, as before mentioned 
and d. in 1810, aged 77. 

6. James Sharp, who left a da. 
Catherine. 

7. Granville Sharp, the celebrated 
philanthropist, b. in 1734, d. in 
1813. No man did more for the 
emancipation of the black slave ; 
than Granville Sharp. 

See Supplement to History of Bradford, by 
John James, from which this i.s taken. 



MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
ABRAHAM SHARP. 

An eminent mathematician, mechanist, 
and astronomer, was descended from an 
ancient family at Little Horton, near 
Bradford, where he was born about the year 
1651. 

At a proper age he was put apprentice to 
a merchant at Manchester ; but his genius 
led him so strongly to the study of mathe- 
matics, both theoretical and practical, that 
he soon became uneasy in that situation of 
life. By the mutual consent, therefore, of 
his master and himself, though not altogether 
with that of his father, he quitted the busi- 
ness of a merchant. Upon this he removed 
to Liverpool, where he gave himself up 

101 



ABRAHAM SHARP, MATHEMATICIAN. 



wholly to the study of mathematics, astro- 
nomy, &c, and where for a subsistence he 
opened a school, and taught writing and 
accounts. 

He had not b^en long at Liverpool, when 
he accidentally fell in company with a mer- 
chant, or tradesman, visiting that town from 
London, in whose house it seems the astro- 
nomer Flamsteed then lodged. With the 
view, therefore, of becoming acquainted 
with this eminent man, Mr. Sharp engaged 
himself with the merchant as a book-keeper. 
In consequence he soon contracted an inti- 
mate acquaintance and friendship with Mr. 
Flamsteed, by whose interest and recom- 
mendation he obtained a more profitable 
employment in the dock-yard at Chatham ; 
where lie continued till his friend and pa- 
tron, knowing his great merit in astronomy 
aud mechanics, called him to his assistance 
in contriving, adapting, and fitting up the 
astronomical apparatus in the roj-al obser- 
vatory at Greenwich, which had been lately 
built, namely, about the year 1676 ; Mr. 
Flamsteed being then thirty years of age, 
and Mr. Sharp twenty- five. 

In this situation he continued to assist 
Mr. Flamsteed in making observations (with 
the mural arch, of eighty inches radius, and 
140 degrees on the limb, contrived and gra- 
duated by Mr. Sharp) on the meridional ze- 
nith distances of the fixed stars, Sun, Moon, 
and planets, with the time of their transit 
over the meridian ; also the diameter of the 
Sun and Moon, aud their eclipses, with those 
of Jupiter's satellites, the variation of the 
compass, &c. He assisted him also in mak- 
ing a catalogue of nearly 3000 fixed stars, as 
to their longitudes and magnitudes, their 
right ascensions and polar distances, with 
the variations of the same while they change 
their longitude by one degree. 

But from the fatigue of continually ob- 
serving the stars at night, in a cold thin air, 
joined to a weakly constitution, he was re- 
duced to a bad state of health ; for the re- 
covery of which he desired leave to retire 
to his house at Horton; where, as soon as 
he found himself on the recovery, he began 
to fit up an observatory of his own, having 
first made an elegant and curious engine for 
turning all kinds of work in wood or brass, 
with a maundril for turning irregular figures, 
as ovals, crosses, wreathed pillars, &c. Be. 
side these, he made himself most of the 
tools used by joiners, clock -makers, opti- 
cians, mathematical instrument-makers, &c. 
The limbs, or arcs, of his large equatorial 
instrument, sextant, quadrant, &c, he gru- 
102 



duated with the nicest accuracy, by diago- 
nal divisions into degrees and minutes. 
The telescopes he made use of were all of 
his own making, and the lenses ground, 
figured, and adjusted with his hands. 

It was at this time that he assisted Mr. 
Flamsteed in calculating most of the tables 
in the second volume of bis " Historia Coeles- 
tis," as appears by their letters, to be seen in 
the hands of Mr. Sharp's friends at Horton. 
Likewise the curious drawings of the charts 
of all the constellations visible in our he- 
misphere, with the still more excellent 
drawings of the planispheres both of the 
northern and southern constellations. And 
though these drawings of the constellations 
were sent to be engraved at Amsterdam 
by a masterly hand, yet the originals far 
exceeded the engravings in poiut of beauty 
and elegance ; these were published by 
Mr. Flamsteed, and both copies may be 
seen at Horton. 

The mathematician meets with something 
extraordinary in Sharp's elaborate " Treatise 
of Geometry Improved," (in 4to. 1717, sign- 
ed A. S. Philomath), 1st. by a large and ac- 
curate table of segments of circles, its con- 
struction, and various uses in the solution 
of several difficult problems, with compen- 
dious tables for finding a true proportional 
part, and their use in these or any other 
tables exemplified in making logarithms, 
or their natural numbers, to 60 places of 
figures, there being a table of them for all 
primes to 1100, true to Gl figures. 2d. His 
concise " Treatise of Polyedra," or solid bo- 
dies of many bases, both the regular ones and 
others : to which are added twelve new 
ones, with various methods of forming them, 
and their exact dimensions in surds or spe- 
cies, and in numbers : illustrated with a 
variety of copper- plates, neatly engraved 
by his own hands. Also the models of 
these polyedra he cut out in box-wood with 
amazing neatness and accuracy. Indeed 
few or none of the mathematical instru- 
ment-makers could exceed him in exactly 
graduating or neatly engraving any mathe- 
matical or astronomical instrument, as may 
be seen in the equatorial instrument above 
mentioned, or in his sextant, quadrants, 
and dials of various sorts; also in a curious 
armillary sphere, which, beside the com- 
mon properties, has moveable circles, &c. 
for exhibiting and resolving all spherical 
trianglas; also his double sector, with many 
other instruments, all contrived, graduated, 
and finished, by himself. In short, he pos- 
sessed at once a remarkably clear head for 
contriving, and an extraordinary hand for 



ABRAHAM SHARP, MATHEMATICIAN. 



executing anj^ thing, not only in mechanics, 
but likewise in drawing, writing, and making 
the most exact and beautiful schemes or 
figures, in all his calculations and geometri- 
cal constructions. 

The quadrature of the circle was under- 
taken by him for his own private amuse- 
meut in the year 1699, deduced from two 
different series, by which the truth of it 
was proved to 72 places of figures ; as may 
be seen in the introduction to Sherwin's 
table of logarithms ; that is, if the diameter 
of the circle be 1, the circumference will 
be found equal to 3.141592653589793238 
4626433832795028841971693993751058209 
749445923078164O5, &c. In the same 
book of Sherwin's may also be seen his in- 
genious improvements on the making of 
logarithms, and the constructing of the na- 
tural sines, tangents, and secants. 

He also calculated the natural and loga- 
rithmic sines, tangents, and secants, to 
every second in the first minute of the 
quadrant: the laborious investigation of 
which may probably be seen in the archives 
of the Royal Society, as they were pre- 
sented to Mr. Patrick Murdock for that 
purpose ; exhibiting his very neat and ac- 
curate manner of writing and arranging his 
figures, not to be equalled perhaps by the 
best penman now living. 

The late ingenious Mr. Smeaton says, 
(Philosophical Transactions, anno 1786, 
p. 5, &c.): "In the year 1689, Mr. Flam - 
steed completed his mural arc at Green- 
wich ; and, in the Prolegomena to his His- 
toria Coelestis. he makes an ample acknow- 
ledgment of the particular assistance, care, 
and industry of Mr. Abraham Sharp ; 
whom, in the month of August 1688, he 
brought into the observatory as his amanu- 
ensis ; and being, as Mr. Flamsteed tells 
us, not only a very skilful mathematician, 
but exceedingly expert in mechanical ope- 
rations, he was principally employed in the 
construction of the mural arc ; which in the 
compass of fourteen months he finished. 

"This celebrated instrument, of which 
he also gives the figure at the end of the 
Prolegomena, was of the radius of 6 feet, 
7^ inches ; and, in like manner as the sextant 
was furnished both with screws and diago- 
nal divisions, all which were made by the ac- 
curate hand of Mr. Sharp. 

" From the account of Mr. Flamsteed it 
appears also, that Mr. Sharp obtained the 
zenith point of the instrument, or line of 
collimation by observation, of the zenith 
stars, with the face of the instrument on 
the east and on the west side of the wall ; 
and that having made the index stronger 



(to prevent flexure) than that of the sex- 
tant, and thereby heavier, he contrived, by 
means of pulleys and balancing weights, to 
relieve the hand that was to move it from a 
great part of its gravity. Mr. Sharp conti- 
nued in strict correspondence with Mr. 
Flamsteed as long as he lived, as appeared 
by letters of Mr. Flamsteed 's, found after 
Mr. Sharp's death, many of which I have 
seen. 

" I have been the more particular in what 
relates to Mr. Sharp, in the business of con- 
structing this mural arc, not only because 
we may suppose it the first good and valid 
instrument of the kind, but because I look 
upon Mr. Sharp to have been the first per- 
son that cut accurate and delicate divisions 
upon astronomical instruments, of which, 
independently of Mr. Flamsteed's testimony, 
there still remain considerable proofs; for, 
after leaving Mr. Flamsteed, and quitting 
the department above mentioned, he retired 
into Yorkshire, to the village of Little Hor- 
ton, near Bradford, where he ended his days 
about the year 1743 (should be in 1742), and 
■where I have seen not only a large and very 
fine collection of mechanical tools, the prin- 
cipal ones being made with his own hands, 
but also a great variety of scales and instru- 
ments made with them, both in wood and 
brass, the divisions of which were so exqui- 
site, as would not discredit the first artist of 
the present time; and I believe there is 
now remaining a quadrant, of four or five 
feet radius, framed of wood, but the limb 
covered with a brass plate, the subdivisions 
being done by diogonals, the lines of which 
are as finely cut as those upon the quad- 
rants at Greenwich. The delicacy of Mr. 
Sharp's hand will indeed permanently ap- 
pear from the copper-plate, in a quarto 
book, published in the year 1718, intituled 
' Geometry Improved, by A. Sharp, Phi- 
lomath,' (or rather 1717, by A. S. Philo- 
math^) whereof not only the geometrical 
lines upon the plates, but the whole of the 
engraving of letters and figures were done 
by himself, as I was told by a person in the 
mathematical line, who very frequently at- 
tended Mr. Sharp in the latter part of his 
life. I therefore look upon Mr. Sharp 
as the first person that brought the affair 
of hand division to any degree of perfec- 
tion." 

Mr. Sharp kept up a correspondence by 
letters with most of the eminent mathema- 
ticians and astronomers of his time, as 
Mr. Flamsteed, Sir Isaac Newton, Dr. 
Halley, Dr. Wallis, Mr. Hodgson, Mr. 
Sherwin, &c. the answers to which letters 
are all written upon the backs or empty 

103 



PEDIGREE OF THE SHARPS. 



spaces of the letters he received, in a 
s'loit hand of his own contrivance. From 
a great voriety of letters (of which a large 
chest-full remains with his friends) ; from 
those and many other well known facts it is 
evident that Mr. Sharp spared neither pains 
nor time to promote real science. Indeed, 
being one of the most accurate and indefa- 
tigable computers that ever existed, he 
was for many years the comraoa resource 
for Mr. Flamsteed, Sir Jonas Moore, Dr. 
Halley, and others, in all sorts of trouble- 
some and delicate calculations. 

Mr. Sharp continued all his life a bache- 
lor, and spent his time as recluse as a her- 
mit. He was of a middle stature, but very 
thin, being of a weakly constitution; he 
was remarkably feeble the last three or four 
years before he died, which was on the 
eighteenth of July, 1742, in the ninety-first 
year of his age. 

In his retirement at Little Horton, he 
employed four or live rooms or apartments 
i'i his house for different purposes, into 
which none of his family could possibly 
outer at any time without his permission. 
He was seldom visited by any persons, 
except two gentlemen of Bradford, the one 
a mathematician, and the other an ingeni- 
ous apothecary: these were admitted when 
he chose to be seen by them, by the sig. 
n;d of rubbing a stone against a certain part 
of The outside wall of the house. He duly 
attended the dissenting chapel at Bradford, 
of which he was a member, every Sunday, 
at these times he took care to be provided 
with plenty of halfpence, which he very 
charitably suffered to be taken singly out 
of his hand, held behind him during his 
walk to the chapel, by a number of poor 
people who followed him, without his ever 
looking back, or asking a single question. 

Mr. Sharp was very irregular as to his 
meals, and remarkably sparing in his diet, 
which he frequently took in the following 
manner : A little square hole, something 
like a window, made a communication be- 
tween the room where he was usually em- 
ployed in caculations, and another chamber 
or room in the house where a servant could 
enter ; and before this hole he had con- 
trived a sliding board : the servant always 
placed his victuals in this hole, without 
speaking or making the least noise, and 
when he had a little leisure he visited his 
cupboard to see what it afforded to satisfy 
his hunger or thirst. But it often happened 
that the breakfast, dinner, and 6upper have 
remained untouched* by him when the ser- 
vant has gone to remove what was left, so 
deeply in, aged h id lie been in calculations. 

104 



Cavities might easily be perceived in an old 
English oak table where he sat to write, 
by the frequent rubbing and wearing of hia 
elbows. Gutta cavat lapidem, &c. By 
Mr. Sharp's epitaph it appears that he was 
related to Archbishop Sharp ; and Mr. 
Sharp, the eminent surgeon. Another ne- 
phew was the father of Mr. Ramsden, the 
celebrated instrument maker, who says that 
his granduncle Abraham, our author, was 
some time, in his younger days, an excise- 
man, which occupation he quitted on com- 
ing to a patrimonial estate of abont two 
hundred pounds a year. 



PEDIGREE OF THE 
SHARPS OF LITTLE HORTON. 

,Arms. — Azure a pheon argent, within a 
bordure argent, charged with eight tor- 
teauxes. 

This family was for a great length of 
time seated at Little Horton, and as 
regards antiquity, respectability, and 
the eminent men it has produced, stands 
very high. There is no doubt of the 
consanguinity of Archbishop Sharp with 
the Sharps of Little Horton, though the 
connexion cannot be exactly traced : 
'the link, Thoresby,' observes Dr. Whi- 
taker, ' failing in his usual industry, 
omitted to find.' * On the monument 
to Abraham Sharp, in Bradford church, 
it is stated that the Archbishop and he 



* Thoresby in his ' Ducatus,' after men- 
tioning the Rev. Thomas Sharp, hereafter 
named, as a learned and pious author, 
proceeds to say, ' the family was of great 
antiquity in Bradford dale, particularly at 
Little Horton, where there has been a suc- 
cession of Thomas and John, alternately, 
for many generations ; but the ancient writ- 
ings being lost, at the taking of Bradford, 
during the Civil Wars, I cannot produce a 
podigree, save what I have extracted from 
the several registers at Leeds and Bradford, 
which I the rather insert, because it is rare 
to meet with so many learned authors so 
nearly allied. Though this branch (Thomas) 
be extinct on the death of an ingenious and 
hopeful young gentleman. Dr. John Sharp, 
yet another is likely to continue in honour, 
being deservedly advanced to the Archiepis- 
copal See of York, not only to the comfort 
and honour of his native county and family, 
but the uuiversal satisfaction and joy of the 
whole nation.' 



PEDIGREE OF THE SHARPS. 



were related, and Calamy even states 
that the Rev. Thomas Sharp, Abraham's 
brother, was cousin to the Archbishop. 
Among the earliest notices of the Sharps 
in this neighbourhood, are the following : 
There is an Alice Sharp, of Bradford, 
mentioned in the Poll Tax Rolls, temp, 
of Richard the IT. and a James Sharp, 
36th Henry the VIII., lived in a house 
at Little "Horton, belonging to Kirk- 
stall Abbey. 

Christopher Sharp, the elder, of Hor- 
ton, probably 6. before 1480, was a 
man of large property at Horton. He is 
assessed to the Subsidy Roll, 34th Henry 
VIII, at £20, a large sum. By his will, 
dated 1 Feb., 1541, proved 4 March, 
1543, he directs his body to be buried in 
the church of St. Peter, Bradford, and 
leaves 3s. 4d. to the church to buy a 
' Maniell,' and 10s. for a trental of 
masses for his soul, and for all Christian 
souls. To his only da. Margaret, he 
leaves 5 marks. He was succeeded by 
his only son. 

John, executor to his father in 1543. 
By his will proved 27 April, 1558, by 
his widow Isabel, he leaves his soul to 
the lady St. Mary; 12d. to the High 
Altar of Bradford, and directs his body 
to be buried in the church of St. Peter, 
at Bradford. He leaves, 

Thomas Sharp, • of Little Horton, his 
son, described as clothier, to whom his 
father gives one thing of the best of 
every kind of vessel accustomed to be 
' occupied ' at his house at Horton. By 
his will proved 11 July, 1607, he directs 
his body to be buried in the church 
yard of Bradford. He m. Elizabeth — , 
and left three sons, 

I. Thomas. By his will, proved 5 
April, 1637, he directs his body to be 
buried in the church yard of Bradford. 
He mentions his nephew William 
Wilkinson, and his niece Mary Water- 
house. Married Martha — , executrix 
of her husband's will. She was buried 
at Bradford, 30 May, 1637, and ad- 
ministration of her effects, granted to 
her das. Sarah and Elizabeth. He left 
a son John, the Parliamentarian, here- 
after mentioned, and also as above 
mentioned, two das., (1) Sarah, m. to 
John Nalson, M.A.. Minister of Hol- 
beck, and Rector of Walkington, and 
by him had John Nalson, LL.D., b. 
1637, and d. in 1685; (2) Elizabeth, 
who m. Wm. Clarkson, Rector of Addle, 
near Leeds, 1660, and d. without issue. 



II. Isaac Sharp, mentioned in his 
father's will, 1607. 

III. John Sharp, of Little Horton. 
He. made large accessions by purchase 
to the family property. He m. Susai , 
eldest da, and co-heiress of Richard 
Waterhouse, of Shelf, on 30 June, 
1606. Administration was granted of 
his (John's) effects, 2 Oct., 1658, to his 
da. Mary Popeley, widow. He was a 
great Royalist, having been in several 
battles on the king's side, in one of 
which he received a severe contusion 
on the head from a battle axe, and 
though he lived to a good age, he 
was wont to say, that but for such a 
blow he might have lived to be an old 
man. He left, (besides a second son 
Thomas, who resided at South Kirkby, 
and d. without issue), a son. 

Isaac, bap at Bradford, 18 July, 
1613. He was Lieut, in the Train 
Bands. He rebuilt the mansion 
house at Little Horton, about 1675. 
He tn. Elizabeth, da. of Joshua 
Rhodes of Mirfield, before 1653, 
and was buried at Bradford, 8 
March, 1680, ' having,' as Oliver 
Hey wood says, 'long lain ill of con- 
sumption.' He left, 

1. Isaac Sharp, of Little Horton, 
his only surviving son, of whom 
hereafter. 

2. Susannah, bap. at Bradford, 
3 Feb., 1669, m. at Sowerby, 14 
March, f693, to Rev. Matthew 
Smith, of Mixenden, M.A., of the 
University of Edinburgh, author 
of several works, and father of the 
Rev. John Smith, minister of the 
Presbyterian chapel, Bradford. 
See section ' Presbyterians ' in 4 Con- 
tinuation' of History of Bradford. 

3. Elizabeth, bap. at Bradford, 
21 June, 1671, m. first, William 
Young, of Bradford, cutler ; 
second, Jonathan Roberts, by 
whom she had, Isaac Roberts, 
who had issue Sharp Roberts. 

The last named Isaac Sharp, was 
bap. at Bradford, 10 Jan., 1665-6, and 
was buried at Bradford, 29 July, 1743 ; 
he w. Elizabeth da. of John Wood, of 
Bramley, near Leeds, 18 April, 1705. 
She was buried at Bradford, 12 Dec. 
1717. They had issue. 

I. John, who d. an infant. 

II. Dorothy, only surviving child 
and heiress, b. about 1708, m. 24 Aug., 
1727, Francis Stapleton, of Little Hor- 
ton, formerly of Bradford, Salter. He 

105 



PEDIGREE OF THE SHARPS. 



rf. 16 March, 1755, aged 52, and was 
buried at Bradford. His widow d. 20 
and buried 22 Aug. 1787, aged 79. 
They had issue three children, 

I. Sharp Stapleton, who d. an infant. 

II. Elizabeth, of whom hereafter. 

III. Mary, b. 11 April, 1733, m. 
Samuel, of Manningham, sometime of 
Horton, Gentleman, b. 2 Dec. 1728, 
d. 28 May, 1792, aged 63, s.p. and is 
buried at Bradford. His widow d. 22 
April, 1809, s.p., and was buried at 
Bradford. 

Elizabeth, above mentioned, eldest da. 
and co-heiress of Mr. Stapleton, b. 29 
Oct. and bap. at Bradford, 30 Nov., 1733, 
m. at St. Andrew's, Holborn, on the 19 
May, 1759, Francis Bridges, of Little 
Horton, sometime of Leeds, a noted 
Antiquary, and Collector of Coins, b. 
2 March, 1724, d. 4 and buried at St. 
John's, Leeds, 9 Jan., 1795. His widow 
d. 22, and buried at St. John's, Leeds, 
26 July, 1787. They had issue, (besides 
three who d. infants) 

I. Elizabeth, eldest da., of whom 
hereafter. 

II. Mary m. to John Lindley, of 
Pontefract who d. s.p. 7 Dec ,1791. 

III. Francis Sharp Bridges, of 
Horton Old hall, only surviving son, 
b. 17 March, 1766, bap. at St. Peter's 
Leeds, 16 April following. He d. in 
1844. 

IV. Jane, youngest surviving da., 
b. 21 Dec, 1774, bap. at St. Peter's, 
Leeds, d. unm. 10 Sept., 1835, aged 
60, and was buried at Bradford. 

Elizabeth, eldest child above named, 
was b. 11 Oct., 1761, and bap. at St. 
Peter's, Leeds, m. 9 Aug., 1797, the 
Rev. Thomas Wade, of Bierley, near 
Bradford, Incumbent of St. Anne's, 
Tottington, near Bury, Lancashire. 
She d. 9, and buried at Bury, 16 
April, 1809. Mr. Wade, d. 29 Oct., 
1833, leaving, 

Anne, his sole da, and heiress, b. 
27 April, 1804, bap. at Tottington, 
m. at Bury, Aug., 1824, to the Rev. 
Benjamin Powell, of Bellingham 
Lodge, Wigan, and Horton Old 
hall aforesaid. He was b. 11 Jan., 
1792, bap. at St. Chad's, Shrews- 
bury. He d. in the year 1861, 
leaving, besides other issue, 

Francis Sharp Powell, of Hor- 
ton Old hall aforesaid, his eldest 
son, to whom the estate descended 
under the provisions of the will of 
Francis Sharp Bridges. Mr. 
106 



Powell was b. 29 June, 1827, and 
graduated as B.A., Cambridge, in 
1850; was in 1857, elected M.P. 
for Wigan ; in 1863 elected M.P. 
for Cambridge, and again in 1866. 
He m. 26 Aug., 1858, Annie, da. 
of M. Gregson, Esq., of Liver- 
pool. Mr. Powell is the munifi- 
cent founder and patron of the 
noble structure of All baint's 
church, Horton. 

John Sharp, before mentioned, the 
noted partisan of the Parliamentarians in 
the Civil Wars, was b. on the 17 Feb., 
1604. He resided in a house of which 
some portion still remains at Horton hall, 
the residence of Edwd. Hailstone, Esq. 
He m. on the 12 Dec, 1632, Mary, da. 
of Robert Clarkson, of Fair Gap, in 
Bradford, and sister of the Rev. William 
Clarkson, above mentioned, and also of 
the Rev. David Clarkson, mentioned 
in Joseph Lister's Autobiography. John 
Sharp, who held many important of- 
fices in this quarter, d. on Whitsunday, 
1G72. (For further particulars respecting 
him, see the History of Bradford, p. 337, 
and section * Horton,' in ' Continu- 
ation.') He had by Mary his wife, 10 
children, viz: Thomas, hereafter men- 
tioned, John, {b. 10 Feb., 1634) Sarah, 
Isaac,* Mary, Samuel, Martha, (b. 
Dec, 1647) William, Abraham,f (of 
whom full particulars are given in his 
Life. See also History of Bradford) and 
Robert. 



* He d. before 1656. 

f In 1699, Abraham Sharp, is described of 
Little Horton, ' Accomptant,' in a lease to 
him from Faith Sharp, the widow of his bro- 
ther Thomas, and her son John. See also p. 
269 in the 'Continuation' to History of Brad- 
ford. Abraham Sharp by his will without date 
and evidently written by himself, appointed 
Richard Gilpin Sawrey, of Little Horton, John 
Atkinson, of Bradford, butcher, and Thomas 
Swain, of Bradford, salter,executors of his will. 
He gives to his grand-niece Faith Sawrey, two 
closes, and .£400, lent upon bond to Faith's 
father, Robert Stansfield ; also £200 owing 
by Robert Gilpin, of Whitehaven; £200 
owing by Mr. Gilpin, sugar baker, White- 
haven, and £450 owing by Richard G. 
Sawrey, his said grand-niece's husband. He 
gives a house to the minister of the ' old 
meeting chapel,' Bradford. 



REV. THOMAS SHARP, M.A 



Thomas,* the eldest son of John Sharp, 
was 6. at Little Horton, 13 Oct, 1633. 
He first m. in 1668, Elizabeth, the da. of 
Mr. Bagnall. She had a da. in 1670, but 
both d. soon after. 

Secondly, Faith, the da. of the Rev. 
James Sale, Nonconformist Minister, 
Pudsey, 21 Ma}', 1673. She d. in the 
year 1710, aged 59. Mr. Sharp d. at 
Leeds, Aug. 19, 1693, and was buried 
there. He was edncated under his uncle 
David Clarkson, at Clare Hall, Cam- 
bridge, where he took the degree of A.M., 
and was for a short time the Vicar of 
Addle. Afterwards he left the Estab- 
lished church, and became a celebrated 
Nonconformist Minister. He had issue, 

1. John, bap. Aug. 2/, 1674, a 
student in Physic at Leyde?i, of great 

promise. He d. in 1704. 

2. William, bap. Feb. 1674, d. 
young. 

3. Faith, m. to Robert Stansfield. 

MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
THE REV. THOMAS SHARP, M.A. 

Mr. Thomas Sharp, M.A., was born at 
Little Horton, near Bradford, of religious 
parents, who, seeing his promptness and 
industry for attaining human learning, and 
hopefulness for religion, dedicated him to 
God in the work of the ministry, although 
he was their eldest son, and likely to enjoy 
a considerable estate. 

Having made good proficiency in country 
schools, be was sent up to Cambridge, 
about the year 1649 ; having been admitted 
into Clare Hall, he was placed under the 
tuition of the famous Mr. David Clarkson, 
his mother's brother, who, when he left 
the University, committed his nephew into 
the care of Mr. John Tillotson, who after- 
wards became Archbishop of Canterbury. 
In a short account of Mr. Sharp, prefixed 
to a little work written by him, it is stated 
that rt he was very studious whilst at 
College, and having a capacious soul, of 
admirable natural parts, which being culti- 
vated by external advantages, and his own 
more than ordinary industry, he became an 
universal scholar, comprehending a whole 
encyclopedia of all profitable literature, — a 
solid logician, a good linguist, a fluent 
rhetorician, a profound philosopher, and 
a very skilful mathematician." 

Being thus well accomplished for learning 
and parts, after he had taken his degrees in 
the University, he made his first essay at 

* See his Life, on this page. 



Peterborough, and after staying there a 
short season, he cirae into his native county 
about the year 1660, and his uncle Mr. 
Wm. Clarkson, who was parson at Addle, 
dying, he was presented to that parsonage 
by Squire Arthington, of Arthington, near 
Leeds, who was the patron. He accepted 
the living but enjoyed it only for a little 
while ; for Dr. Hick, parson of Guiseley 
church, challenged it as his right, upon 
King Charles the 2nd's return, he having 
been excluded by the act against pluralities 
made by the parliament. Mr. Sharp, 
having been ordained by a bishop could have 
retained ; but as he saw that there was no 
contending with so great a man, especially 
at that juncture, he was willing to resign, 
although Mr. Arthington would have tried 
his title to present by law. He then re- 
tired to his father's house, where he was of 
singular use, living privately, and following 
his studies very closely, attending upon 
public ordinances in the parish church, 
where that worthy minister, Mr. Abraham 
Brooksbank, was vicar, till he removed to 
Reading. When the licenses were granted 
by King Charles the 2nd, in 1672, he took 
the opportunity to exercise his ministry in 
his own house, at Little Horton. which was 
crowded with the great numbers who 
flocked to hear him. About that time he 
married the daughter of a Mr. Bagnall, by 
whom he had one child, which, with the 
mother, died soon after. After some time 
he married the daughter of a Mr. Sale, an 
excellent Nonconformist minister, and a 
native of Pudsey ; who, when he was 
silenced, lived at his own house at Pudsey, 
and constantly preached there and in the 
neighbourhood until he died, April 21st, 
1679. 

Mr. Sharp had a call to preach at Morley, 
where he was very industrious and highly 
esteemed. But the inhabitants of the 
populous town of Leeds having built a 
large chapel; upon Mr. Richard Stretton's 
removal to London, gave him a call which 
he accepted. He continued to live how- 
ever at his own place at Horton, and rode 
over on the Sunday to Leeds, and back 
again in the evening. This double journey, 
and twice preaching, he found at length too 
hard for him. He therefore bought a house 
in Leeds, repaired and enlarged it, and thus 
he kept house both there and at Horton, 
where his secular affairs required his atten- 
dance frequently. 

He was in labour more abundant, and 
spared not his own body, or estate that he 
might do good to souls, and edify the 
Church of God, He was a fluent preacher, 

107 



SHARPS OF HORTON HALL. 



a master of words, not so much abounding 
in rhetorical nourishes as ir. fitting and 
profitable sentences. All' he did was ex- 
ceedingly polite and scholar-like. His 
method was peculiar to himself, but always 
suitable to the matter, and proper to the 
end desired, — not to please the fancy, but 
to inform the judgment, convince the 
conscience, work upon the will and affections, 
and clianpe the heart and life He was 
very sound and orthodox in doctrine, and 
trod much in the old path, though he was 
well acquainted with the controversies of 
the times, and very able to oppose error, 
and defend the truth. He had a lofty, 
poetical strain, wherein, he sometimes em- 
ployed himself upon special occasions, as 
upon the death of that worthy divine 
Elkunah Wales, and upon the burning of 
London in 1666, which being showed to 
Dr. Robert Wild, he seemed surprised, and 
ingenuously said, "that man should be his 
master, he would yield the laurel to the 
north country poet.' An imperfect copy 
of his verses on " Sleep," (composed in his 
younger years, when at the University) 
were printed under the name of the famous 
Cleveland. He also left several tracts and 
poems in manuscript. 

One Mr. Smith, having extravagantly 
commended the Liturgj r , as if it had been 
compiled by a synod or consult of Arch- 
angels, and was superior even to the divinely 
inspired oracles, Mr. Sharp drew up this 
short account of it : — It is defective in 
necessaries, redundant in superfluities, 
dangerous in some things, disputable in 
many, disorderly in all :" and then he gave 
an instance of each. He would never be 
persuaded to put any thing to the press, 
though often solicited to do so, replying 
that, there were books enough printed. But 
a lady in the neighbourhood being in great 
troubla of conscience, coming often to visit 
him, seemed to be much satisfied, and ap- 
peased, whilst he discoursed to her, but 
when she was gone from him she was as 
much cast down and disconsolate as ever. 
She therefore earnestly desired him to write 
down some pertinent meditations to which 
she might have recourse, when she was absent 
from him. He complied with her request, 
and after his death, these meditations were 
printed under the title of u Divine Comforts 
antidoting inward Perplexities." 

But to come to the last scenes of this 
good man's life. On August 4th, 1693, he 
rode from his own house at Horton, to 
Leeds, being at the time in competent 
health. He preached that day, which was 
Friday, the preparation sermon for the 

108 



Lord's supper. On Lord's day, August 
6th, he preached twice and administered 
the Lord's supper. He was wonderfully 
enlarged both in expression and warm 
affections, so that some were ready to think 
that he was in heaven already, and admired 
the grace of God in him. On Wednesday, 
August the 9th, on which was the monthly 
public fast, he was long at work and spent 
himself exceedingly. On Thursday night 
he began to be ill of his old distemper— the 
pleurisy — and he lingered at times in great 
pain, until August the 19th, when after 
taking a solemn leave of his wife and 
children, and with great faith and cheer- 
fulness recommending his soul into the hands 
of his blessed Redeemer, he encountered 
the pangs of death, and entered upon his 
everlasting rest, at the age of 60 years. 

On Tuesday, August 22nd, he was buried, 
many ministers and Christian friends at- 
tending his funeral, with sad and sorrow- 
ful hearts. His corpse was interred in 
the chancel of the New Church at Leeds, 
near the remains of the good Mr. Wales, as 
he himself had desired. On September the 
16th, 1693, at the people's request, two of 
his brethren preached funeral sermons at 
his meeting- place on Mill Hill, to a mighty 
concourse of people, — the one preaching 
upon Acts xx., 38 ; the other upon 1 Kings 
xiii., 20. 

From the little work named above, — 
" Divine Comforts," — this sketch of a 
worthy Bradfordian has been copied. See 
the " History of Morley Old Chapel," by 
the Rev. J. Wonnacott : 1859, Morley, 
S. Stead, Printer. 

The Sharps of Horton Hall. 

The following remarks on the Sharps of 
Horton Hall, are from a lecture by the late 
Rev. Joshua Fawcett, M.A., of Low Moor, 
and touch on some points not previously 
mentioned. 

" There is perhaps scarcely any name asso- 
ciated with the early history of our parish 
of more real interest than that of the Sharps 
of Horton. Of this family we have to record 
the history of the ancient astronomer of that 
name, Abraham Sharp — and John Sharp, 
Archbishop of York. In Hopkinson's MSS. 
we find mention made of a James Sharp, who 
lived in the 36th year of King Henry VIII. 
in a house in Horton, late belonging to 
Kirkstall Abbey. This was probably on the 
site of the old hall at Little Horton. He 
died in 1590, leaving four sons, James, of 
Woodhouse Hill, in North Bierley; John, 
of Little Horton ; Thomas, of Little Hor- 
ton j and Isaac, of Manningham. From the 



SHARPS OF IIORTON HALL. 



first of these, James, amongst others, sprung 
John, Archbishop of York ; from the second, 
John, amongst others, sprung Abraham 
Sharp, the arithmetician ; and from the 
third, Thomas, sprung, amongst others, the 
late W. Sharp, Esq., of Bradford, to whose 
memory a monument was erected in the 
Boiling Chapel, in the parish church, Brad- 
ford. There are only two of this name to 
whom I shall specially call your attention, 
and the first of these is Abraham Sharp, who 
was born June 10, 1651 , in the house known 
as Horton Hall, the residence of Edward 
Hailstone, Esq., F.S.A. This house was for 
several centuries the residence of the elder 
branch of the Sharp family; the younger 
branch living in the ancient house adjoining 
and now belonging to F. S. Powell, Esq., M.P. 
[It may be mentioned here that not far dis- 
tant stands the mansion cf the Listers, of 
Little Horton, now Horton House, where 
they dwelt from a remote period.] John 
Sharp, the owner of it in the Civil Wars, 
received from Parliament, during the Protec- 
torate, a gold medal, with the figure of Fair- 
fax on the obverse; and round the rim of 
the reverse the words, '' post hcec meliora," 
and in the centre, " Meruisti." This house 
became afterwards the residence of the cele- 
brated mathematician, Abraham Sharp. I 
shall have occasion to speak of the house 
itself presently, and therefore pass on with 
this general remark as to its early occupants. 
The family of the Sharps were zealously and 
intelligently attached to the Parliamentarian 
party in the Civil Wars, and held the tenets 
of the Puritans. 

Abraham was educated at the Bradford 
Grammar School, on leaving which he was 
articled to a merchant at Manchester. In a 
memorandum book still in existence there is 
mention made of ^20 having been paid for 
his apprenticeship. He removed from thence 
to Liverpool and afterwards to London, for 
in 1670 he writes to his elder brother 
Thomas from Tower Hill, and speaks of an 
advantageous offer of a place at Portsmouth, 
and also of a situation in London on better 
terms. I find from his memorandum book 
that his receipts in 1691 were £96 12s. 6d„ 
and his expenses £39 Os. 7d. He speaks of 
his vice and tools, with rose and oval turning 
in the latter — 1691-93. From a memoran- 
dum book in his own handwriting, it appears 
he was employed by a Mr. Graham, at 
Portsmouth. Probably Mr. G. was a ship- 
wright. He appears to have taught mathe- 
matics and navigation, as several entries are 
made of agreements with persons at 4s. 6d. 
per week- In 1694 he returned to Bradford. 
His memorandum book contains various en- 



tries, such, for instance, as the following: — 
" 1679 — Iron work for pedestal for telescope. 
Axis for tube, &c. 1698 — Screw pins for 
telescope. A frame for an engine to cut 
wheels. 1709 — Letter from Wm. Flamstead, 
6s. 9d. 1710— Parcel from him." Most of 
his correspondence and papers have perished. 
By gross carelessness and neglect many 
of them have been used for any purpose, 
such as lighting fires, &c. In Bailey's Life 
of Flamstead some of his letters are given ; 
and what letters remained were taken to 
London by Mrs. Giles, the late owner of the 
estate of Horton Hall. 

This memorandum book contains some 
curious entries ; and in them we find mathe- 
matical calculations, purchase of scientific 
instruments, books, &c, and domestic ex- 
penses and receipts all mixed up together. 
These books also reveal the habits and cus- 
toms of the time as to dress, mode of living, 
and so forth. Flamstead's name often occurs. 
Washing, 10d.; penny post letter, Id.; dress- 
ing hat, 6d. ; a pair of stockings, 6s. 6d. ; 
a coppy book, 6d. ; watch glass for Col. 
Knight, Is. 6d. ; a pair of boots, 4s. ; cut- 
ting my hair, 6d. ; received of Mr. Flam- 
stead in full, ^15 ; paid for a hat, 9s. 6d. ; 
received of my Lord Guilford, 2s. 6d. j a 
pair of purple hair shag breeches, 15s. ; set- 
ting my wrist, 2s. 6d. ; a pair of handcuffes, 
lid.; given at church, 6d.; in pocket, 9s. 
lOd. ; put in more, 14s.; paid for ^ year's 
dyett, at 4s. per week, £5 ; paid for wigg, 
18s. 

Sharp's connection with Flamstead arose 
out of that great astronomer's perceiving the 
unmistakeable talent of the young York- 
shire boy. When Sharp resigned his appren- 
ticeship in Manchester, he retired to Liver- 
pool, and there devoted his time to the study 
of mathematics. Here becoming acquainted 
with a merchant from London, in whose 
house Flamstead lodged, Sharp determined to 
obtain the situation of bookkeeper to the 
merchant. It was whilst there that Flam- 
stead saw the former, and obtained from him 
the post in Portsmouth already referred to ; 
and afterwards took him as his assistant at 
the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. This 
happened when he was no more than 23 years 
of age. In consequence of a delicate consti- 
tution, which could ill bear the labours to 
which he was called at Greenwich, he re- 
turned to Horton, obtaining a small property, 
and though residing in the house to the 
period of his death, there are entries in his 
memoranda of his paying money for his 
board and contributions to the house expen- 
ses, as seen above. 

His elder brother, Thomas, after his ejec- 

109 



ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



tion from the Rectory of Adel, returned to 
his parental estate, and after pulling down a 
portion of the original mansion, designed 
himself the present building, working up, as 
is shown by the plan and memorandum book 
still existing, the old materials. The design 
is that which was usually adopted in the 
houses of the gentry at that period; a centre 
tower with the wings, as may be seen in the 
contemporary houses of Kiddlesden and 
others in the neighbouring parishes. The 
story of the Tower having been built as an 
Observatory is fabulous. Abraham lived the 
life of a recluse, having few acquaintances, 
and still fewer visitors. It is stated, that 
when any particular friends came to see him, 
they were in the habit of rubbing a stone 
against a prescribed part of the outside wall 
of the house, and if he wished their company 
were admitted by him, otherwise they re- 
turned disappointed. It is also related of 
him, that sometimes he was so absorbed in 
his calculations that he for three days to- 
gether forgot his necessary food, which had 
been left by his servant at the door of the 
room where he was mentally engaged. This 
door still remains, and the old oak table, 
worn by the rubbing of his elbows with 
writing, is yet part of its furniture. 

He carried on a very regular correspon- 
dence vvith the most eminent philosophers of 
the day. There is an interesting story cur- 
rent, that on one occasion not being able to 
solve a mathematical problem, and having 
heard that some one living in Scotland could 
throw light upon it, he travelled the whole 
distance to see him. Anon he reached his 
journey's end, he related the object of his 
visit, when he was told that there was only 
one man who could help him, and that he 
had better go to him. Sharp asked who that 
was ; when the stranger told him, in perfect 
ignorance of his visitor, that it was a man 
living at Little Horton, near Bradford, of the 
name of Abraham Sharp. This shows how 
far and wide Sharp's fame had spread. His 
celebrity was such that his portrait was taken 
and engraved byVertue,the eminent engraver 
of that period, and at the present time is very 
scarce, and fetches a high fancy price. 

Many amusing and characteristic anecdotes 
are further told respecting our eminent 
townsman. For instance, it is related of him, 
that when he left home to go to the Presby- 
terian Chapel in Chapel Lane, it was his 
custom to carry copper money in his hand, 
holding his hands behind him, that the 
money might be taken by persons whose 
names he did not know. There can be little 
doubt but that in this, he was anxious to 
carry out to the very letter the precept of 

110 



our Lord, " When thou doest thine alms, let 
not thy left hand know what thy right hand 
doeth." We cannot in this matter too 
highly respect the motive, whatever judgment 
Ave may form of the mode in which he ex- 
pressed it. 

Our townsman, as far as is known, seems 
to have published but one book, and that 
was entitled, " Geometry Improved," to 
which, instead of his own name, he attached 
the signature, ' A.S., Philomath.' 

Too much commendation cannot be be- 
stowed upon the beautiful and accurate man- 
ner in which he wrote his mathematical cal- 
culations. His memorandum books are, 
many of them, now in the possession of E. 
Hailstone, Esq., and for beauty of writing, 
and accurate mathematical drawing, cannot 
be surpassed. He lived to the patriarchal age 
of 91 years. In person he was of the middle 
stature, spare, and constitutionally feeble; 
nevertheless, by care his life was extended to 
the long period just mentioned. He .died 
July 18, 1742, and was interred in Bradford 
Church, where a handsome monument has 
been erected to his memory." 



Archbishop Sharp. 

" Of a collateral branch of this family was 
the great Archbishop Sharp, as already men- 
tioned; and I have seen a deed of the 14th 
century, containing the names of Scharpe, to 
which they are parties, and dealing with pro- 
perty, evidencing that at that early period 
they were people, as we should term it, of 
considerable position. 

John Sharp was born in a house in Ive- 
gate, to the west of that now known as the 
Unicorn Inn, on February 16, 1644. His 
father's name was Thomas, who was the 
second son of Thomas Sharp, born in 1606, 
a drysalter and oil dealer, in Bradford. His 
father was warmly attached to the Puritan 
cause and the Parliamentarian party, but his 
mother was a devoted Royalist ; and, in con- 
sequence of this, he obtained much favour with 
Lord Fairfax. He received his early educa- 
tion at the Grammar School, Bradford, and 
afterwards went to Christ's College, Cam- 
bridge. The first step of his advancement is 
said to be attributable to his arresting the at- 
tention of Sir Henry More by the manner in 
which he read the Scriptures in College 
Chapel, who recommended him to Sir Heneage 
Finch, the Solicitor-General, as a domestic 
chaplain and tutor for his sons. He remained 
in this situation five years. Through the in- 
fluence of Sir Heneage, he obtained his ap- 
pointment to the Archdeaconry of Berks, and 



RICHARD RICHARDSON, M.D. 



this at the early age of 28 years. His patron 
having been promoted to the post of Lord 
HighChancellor,Sharp was in due course pre- 
ferred to a prebendal stall in Norwich Cathe- 
dral, the living of St. Bartholomew's, Ex- 
change, and, lastly, the important Rectory 
of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London. Soon 
after this he married Miss Elizabeth Palmer, 
of "Winthorp, Lincolnshire. The mother of 
this lady, being a strong puritan, would not 
consent to the match until she had consulted 
Richard Baxter, whose opinion in his favour 
was expressed in words to the effect, that if he 
had a daughter to give away, he would not 
refuse her hand to Sharp. This opinion 
was decisive in Sharp's favour. The marriage 
was solemnized by Dr. Tillotson, between 
whom and Sharp the closest intimacy was 
observed. That intimacy is said to have 
been thus commenced : Tillotson had a bro- 
ther in London, a drysalter, and Sharp, going 
with a money bill from his father to the dry- 
salter's warehouse, met accidentally John 
Tillotson, the future Archbishop of Canter- 
bury, and a friendship commenced which 
lasted through life. He continued Rector of 
St. Giles' for 16 years. In 1681 he was pre- 
ferred to the Deanery of Norwich. In 1689, 
the Deanery of Canterbury falling vacant, 
he was promoted to it; and on the Arch- 
bishopric of York becoming void, by the 
joint interest of Tillotson and Lord Notting- 
ham, the son of his former patron, he was 
raised to it. This happened in the 47th year 
of his age. He died at Bath, February 2, 
1713, aged 69 years, and was buried in York 
Minster, where a monument was erected to 
his memory. There is an interesting tradi- 
tion that Archbishop Sharp, in early life, was 
a candidate for the incumbency of Wibsey 
Chapel, but that he failed in his attempt, 
having been outpreached by some one of su- 
perior lungs, but inferior talent This led to 
his return to College, and his consequent 
promotion, as already described. It is said 
that whenever he made a visitation in this 
part of his diocese, he placed the incumbent 
of "Wibsey on his right hand at dinner, say- 
ing, with a degree of pleasantry, that he 
owed much to him for having stood in his 
way in former years, and thus prevented his 
settling down in a humble sphere and a re- 
tired district, where he might never have 
been known." 



MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 

RICHARD RICHARDSON, M.D. 

One of the most eminent men of which 
Bradford in its earlier history can boast, was, 



perhaps, Richard Richardson, M.D. He 
was born at Bierley Hall, the residence of his 
ancestors,* on the 6th of September, 1G63, 
and was baptized at the parish church, in 
Bradford, ou the 24th of the same month. 

If a long line of ancestors could confer 
honour on an individual, he possessed all 
this, for I find from Sir Bernard Burke's 
" Royal Descents," that he was collaterally 
descended from Sir Thomas Cookes, Bart., 
the founder of Worcester College, and that 
the late Mary Richardson Currer, of Eshton 
Hall, was the last of his race, and, of course, 
up to the time of her death exercised the 
privileges attached to that relationship. 

Before young Richardson had attained his 
fourth year, his father, William Richardson, 
died, leaving also a younger brother and sis- 
ter.f The mother of these children was one 



* The Bierley Hall, in which he first saw 
the light, must have been some building older 
than any part of the present ball, for I find 
in a lecture " On the former Inhabitants of 
Bradford," by the late Rev. J. Fawcett, of 
Low Moor, who is no mean authority, that 
"the present Bierley Hall was built about 
a.d. 1690." He also adds " that it has un- 
dergone considerable alterations within the 
last 150 years. It has been new fronted with 
stone in the Italian style of architecture, quite 
different from the original design, and what 
is curious, the windows have not been made 
to correspond with the height of the interior 
rooms. The west wing matches the charac- 
ter of the old hall, and there are traces at 
the east end of a corresponding wing having 
been removed. There is a view of the hall 
in the British Museum, by Warburton, So- 
merset Herald, in the beginning of the last 
century." In Mr. James's "History of 
Bradford," there is a fine steel engraving of 
the hall, which was the unsolicited gift of the 
late Miss Currer. The drawing is by Mr. 
Charles Cousin, and the engraving by Mr. 
J. C. Bentley, both, I believe, Bradford men, 
who have done honour to our good old town. 
Mr. Fawcett says : — " In front of the hall 
are three marble slabs, containing inscriptions 
to the memory of some Romans of former 
days. The inscriptions are not very easy to 
decipher, but they run as follows: — Dis 
Manjbus a Manilio Ajviaranti, etc. Fbcit 
a Manilio Pothinus. D. M. Julie Fili 
Julia CEphyre, etc. D. M. Flaviae, E. T. 
etc. What may be the dates of these slabs, 
and whence they came, the owners of Bierley 
have no knowledge." 

t This sister, whose name was Jane, was 

111 



RICHARD RICHARDSON, M.D. 



of the talented family of the Saviles, in the 
parish of Halifax. Mr. James says that she 
possessed, besides the hereditary abilities of 
the family, great domestic virtues. She 
reared her children with extreme care, and 
watched with solicitude the development of 
their mental and moral characters. It is 
pleasing to add that her labours were neither 
unrewarded nor forgotten by her eldest son ; 
he was early distinguished for his attainments 
iu learning, and it isalike honourable to both, 
that, so reciprocal was their affection and re- 
gard, she lived with him at Bierley Hall after 
he had been twice married, and died under 
his roof. 

Dr. Richardson received his early educa- 
cation in the Bradford Grammar School, and 
it is admitted by all that during his youth 
this institution took a very high position a- 
mong the seats of education in the land, for 
its masters were learned men, who laboured 
assiduously to discharge their duties, and 
sought to turn out able scholars.* In the 
latter they certainly would not be disap- 
pointed, for it would be very easy for me to 
draw up a list of men who first attended this 
school, and who, after matriculating at one 
or other of our English universities, have well 
served their day and generation, and around 
whose names there still circles a halo of well- 
deserved fame. 

In this school, the studies of his youth in 
the Classics and other departments of human 
knowledge were prosecuted with success, un- 
til his removal to University College, 
Oxford, where, being intended for the profes- 
sion of physician, he applied himself to the 
study of medicine, and took there the degree 
of Bachelor of Physic. 

But the career of this eminent English bo- 
tanist has been so well sketched by my friend, 
Mr. James, in his volume of the History of 

married to Edward Ferrand, of Harden Beck, 
from whom has sprung the present Ferrand 
family of St. Ives, Bingley. 

* Mr. James says, "This is evinced by the 
letters from Dr. Arthur Chartlett (an emin- 
ent classical scholar) to Dr. Richardson, 
printed in Nichols's Illustrations of the Li- 
terature of the Eighteenth Century. In these 
letters Chartlett says, 1713, 'Give my service 
to the careful master of Bradford School.' In 
1718 he says, ' I hope your neighbouring re- 
nowned school of Bradford continues to flour- 
ish. I do not forget my debt to their library.' 
In another letter he says, ' It is long since I 
contracted a debt to the famous school of 
Bradford,' and he then mentions that he had 
sent by the carrier a present of books. 

112 



Bradford, that I cannot do better than give 
his narrative in his own words : — 

"The University of Leyden enjoyed at the 
close of the 17th century the highest reputa- 
tion as a school for medicine ; and thither re- 
sorted, for the benefit of the lectures and in- 
structions of the celebrated professors who 
filled its chairs, most of the youth of Europe 
destined for the highest department of the 
healing art. Dr. Richardson studied at Ley- 
den three years, during which period he lodged 
in the house of the eminent botanical profes- 
sor, Paul Hermann ; and I doubt not to this 
circumstance is mainly to be attributed the 
Doctor's passionate and untiring fondness for, 
and great attainments in, botanical pursuits. 
Among the eminent scientific men he formed 
an intimacy with at this University, the cele- 
brated Boerhave stands distinguished; and 
being of congenial minds and tastes, the friend- 
ship thus formed lasted their joint lives. 

" On his return from Leyden, he obtained 
at Oxford the degree of Doctor of Physic, 
and retiring to enjoy at Bierley Hall, 

* The mild majesty of private life, 
Where Peace, with ever-blooming olive, 

crowns 
The gate,' 

devoted a long and virtuous course to science 
and works of mercy. Having an ample es- 
tate, he did not practise physic as a means of 
support; but when he attended his friends 
professionally, like the indefatigable Dr. 
Martin Lister, he made those visits subservi- 
ent to the gleaning of knowledge in botany 
and antiquities. His skill in medicine was 
sound and extensive, and at all times readily 
and gratuitously exercised for the benefit of 
the poor. 

" The blossoms of virtue and beneficence 
must early bud in the soul, else few of their 
flowers are rarely found in after life. An 
anecdote is related of our philosopher on at- 
taining his majority, which reflects lustre on 
his character. His father died intestate ; and, 
although possessed of very extensive landed 
estates, left no personal property beyond that 
required for the payment of his debts, and his 
younger son and daughter were left totally 
unportioned and without fortune. The Doc- 
tor, when a boy, desired his mother to edu- 
cate his brother and sister at his expense, and 
when he obtained the estate, settled upon 
them ample fortunes. 

"The life of a retired scholar like Dr. 
Richardson furnishes few incidents for biog- 
raphy. In 1712, he was admitted a Fellow of 
the Royal Society. For a long period of his 
life, he lived in terms of the strictest friend- 
ship with the President of that illustrious 



RICHARD RICHARDSON, M.D. 



body — Sir Hans Sloane ;* and he numbered 
among his friends and correspondents the 
most eminent naturalists of the age. In the 
list are included the names of Dr. Dilenius, 
Ray, the two Sherards, Willoughby, TJvedale, 
Lhwyd, Brewer, besides a number of noble 
and titled promoters of science. Hearne, 
Thoresby, Marmaduke Fothergill, Drake, 
and many other antiquaries and classical 
scholars were his intimate friends f 

" He married twice, first Sarah, only 
daughter and heiress of John Crossley, of 
Kershaw House, in the parish of Halifax, 
and of Crossley Hall, in this parish. She 
died in 1702, within three years after her 
marriage, leaving no issue who survived 
her. He selected for his second wife, 



* The visitor to the old hall at Bierley 
will not fail to notice a large cedar of Leb- 
anon, which stands on the lawn. This was 
first sent as a seedling, along with some others, 
as a present to Dr. R. from his friend Sir 
Hans Sloane. This tree was first planted in 
a greenhouse, but this was done under the 
idea that it would not thrive in the cold cli- 
mate of England, but after a time it was 
transplanted to the spot where it has braved 
the storms of 150 winters, the delight of all 
who look upon it. Two others were also 
planted, but were cut down some years aero, 
because they darkened the house. The 
second hot-house erected in England was 
built at Bierley, and was glazed with small 
leaded panes. 

t Dr. Richardson left a vast amount of 
valuable correspondence and other manu- 
script matter, when he died ; all of which 
has been religiously preserved by his descen- 
dants. The whole of these papers, and all 
the articles of vertu collected by Dr. Ri- 
chardson, the second son of the one under 
notice, were removed many years ago from 
Bierley, and are now at Eshton Hall, where 
the late Miss Currer died. A good deal of 
this correspondence was published some years 
ago, at the expense of Miss Currer. These 
volumes may sometimes be met with at the 
second-hand book stores, and bought for a 
few shillings. I have sought for a copy in 
the Bradford Library, but find that the com- 
mittee have neglected to secure one. This 
is the title of the book: — "Extracts from 
the Literary and Scientific Correspondence 
of Richard Richardson, M.D., Fellow of the 
Royal Society, of Bierley Hall, Yorkshire. 
Edited by Dawson Turner, Esq. 8vo., 530 
pages ; with portrait, and a plate of Bierley 
Hall. Yarmouth, 1835.'' 

Holkoyd's Collectanea, No. 8, 



Dorothy, second daughter of Henry Currer, 
Esq., of Kildwick, and had by her twelve 
children, seven of whom outlived her. 

"The Doctor considerably augmented the 
family estate, and to his second wife, this 
honour may partly be attributed, as she ably, 
and almost solely, managed his domestic 
concerns. 

"After a long life spent under the ap- 
plauding smile of heaven, he died at Bierley, 
the 21st of April, 1741, and was buried at 
Cleckheaton Chapel, which he had re-edified. 
A handsome monument, with a neat Latin 
inscription to his memory, graces the 
chapel.* 

" I am saved the task of pointing out his 
merits in his favourite walk of science, 
inasmuch as an able writer on the subject, 
Dr. Pulteney, thus adverts to them in his 
Botanical Sketches : — ' Among those whom 
Dilenius has recorded in the preface to 
the third edition of Ray's Synopsis, and 
his Historia Muscorum, as having am- 
plified English Botany, the names of the 
Sherards and of Dr. Richardson obtain a 
superior distinction. The merits of Dr. 
Richardson, both from his undoubted skill 
in the science and his well-known patronage 
of those who cherished it, demand a more 
particular commemoration than I am able 



* The family of the Richardsons, along 
with the Rookes, of Royds Hall, were the 
original founders of "Wibsey Chapel, in the 
year 1 606, and until late years the right of pa- 
tronage vested in them. There is a tradition 
that these two great families bad a misun- 
derstanding, and that, in consequence, Dr. 
Win. Richardson determined to erect a 
chapel of which he should be the sole patron, 
This was the origin of Bierley Chapel, which 
was built in 1766. Archbishop Sharp says, 
ft Wibsey cbapel was built at the expense of 
Richard Richardson, of Bierley Hall, Wil- 
liam Rookes, of Royds Hall, gentlemen, and 
other inhabitants of Wibsey and Bierley. 
They settled upon the curate ^£20 10s. a 
year for his salary, and petitioned Archbishop 
JNeile, of York, to consecrate the chapel in 
1636. Whereupon the Archbishop com- 
manded Richard, Bishop of Sodor and Man, 
to consecrate the chapel and chapel-yard 
thereof for a burial place, which he did 
October 21st, 1636." It may not be out of 
place here to mention that Newall Hall, not 
far from Bierley Chapel, was built in 1672 
by Dr, Richard Richardson, and possesses 
some remarkable peculiarities of architec- 
ture. Now (1867) it is let out in parts to 
cottagers. 

113 



PEDIGREE OF THE RICHARDSONS. 



to give.' After detailing a few circumstances 
of his life, he then proceeds — ' He had 
travelled into various parts of England for 
the investigation of plants, and had been 
successful in his tour into Wales, having 
more especially made discoveries in the 
Cryptogamia class. His garden was well 
stored with exotics and with a curious collec- 
tion of English plants.' 

" It is well known as a fact in the history 
of botany, that the Cryptogamia class, or 
imperfect plants, owe most to the labours 
of Doody and Dr. Kichardsou for their 
illustration. 

" He never published any work on 
botany. His labours were freely offered to 
the botanists of his time, and his name 
frequently appears in their works. He 
seems to have wanted the two great 
impulses to write — vanity and pecuniary 
gain.* 

"There are scattered through the Philo- 
sophical Transactions many able contribu- 
tions from him on various subjects of 
natural history. His letter to Hearne, 
published in that gentleman's edition of 
Leland's Itinerary, sufficiently evinces the 
attention paid by the Doctor to local anti- 
quities, and that he was a skilful and 
judicious antiquary. To his care in pre- 
serving that treasure of Yorkshire topogra- 
phy, Hopkinson's MSS., and the liberality 
of his descendant, Miss Currer, this humble 
literary effort is, like ' Loidis,' and many 
other topographical works, greatly in- 
debted. 



PEDIGREES. 



RICHARDSON OF BIERLEY. 

A TIMS — Sable, on a chief argent three lions' 
heads erased, of the field. 

Crkst— Out of a mural crown or, a dexter 
arm in armour, brandishing a falchion ar- 
gent, gripe vert, pomel and hilt or. 

Motto — Sibi constet. 

Nicholas Richardson, of the county 
of Durham, came into Yorkshire in 



* Edward Hailstone, Esq., of Horton 
Hall, has a copy, in the handwriting of Dr. 
Richardson, of a catalogue of plants, entitled 
"Index llorti Bieriienais PlankU turn Briian- 
nkes Xotabiliores quam Exoiicus compec'uns 
luxta Ray Mcthodum dhpositas. A.C., 
1741." The handwriting: of this mannscrij.r 
is v. ry clear and distinct. 

114 



1561, and purchased estates at Tong 
North-Bierley, and Woodhall. He m- 
first Mary. da. of John Midgley of Clay- 
ton in Bradford-dale, and had by her 
Richard, his heir; Helena, b. in 1573, 
m. to Richard Cordingley of Holme, 
in Tong; Margaret, b. in 1574, the 
wife of Michael Jenkinson of Pudsey, 
He m. secondly Ann. da. of Lionel 
Goodhall, and, besides four sons who 
died young, had a daughter, Ann, who 
rn. in 1605 Chr. Cave of Otley. Nicho- 
las Richardson d. in 1616, and was suc- 
ceeded by his son, the above-named. 

Richard, who resided at North-Bier- 
ley, b. in 1576, and rn. first in 1599 to 
Ann, da. and heiress of William Pollard 
of North -Bicrley, buried at Bradford 
14 Aug. 1624. He m. in 1626 Susannah 
Swaine of Bradford, widow, who had no 
issue. In 1630 he paid .£40 as a fine 
to Lord Wentworth for not attending 
and receiving the honour of knighthood 
at the coronation of Charles the first. 
He d. in 1634, and by his first wife had 

I. William, his heir, hereafter men- 
tioned. 

II. Richard, successor to his bro- 
ther Wm,, and hereafter mentioned. 

III. Thomas, baptized at Bradford 
church, 24 Dec. 1609, was a mer- 
chant, and appears by his father's will 
to have had several messuages and 
lands ;md ^£'600 in money given as 
his portion. 

IV. Nicholas who d. an infant. 

V. Ann, b. 1612, m. to Thomas 
Lansjley of Horbury. 

VI. Alice, b. in 1614, m. Thomas 
Senior of Hopton,in Mirfield. 

VII. Sarah, b. in 1616, m. first 
Richard Jenkinson of Pudsey, and se- 
cond to Robert Milner Esq of Pudsey. 

VIII. Beatrice b. in 1622, m. James 
Sayle of Pudsey, Esq., and had two 
daughters. 

1 Beatrice Sayle, m. to Richard 
JIutton, Esq., great grandson of 
Archbishop ilutton. 

2. Faith Sayle, m. to Thomas 
Sharp, (see Sharp pedigree,) and 
had an only daughter and heiress, 

Elizabeth Sharp, rn to Robert 

Stansfield, Esq., of Bradford, 

(See Stansfield pedigree. ) 

William Kichardsou of Bierley, Esq., 

eldest son and heir of Richard before 

mentioned, bap. at Bradford church (as 

were all his brothers and sisters) 22 

Ann. 1602, m. Elizabeth, eldest da. of 

■ge II(v<kinson of Lofthou 






FEDIGREE OF THE RICIIAJIDSONS. 



to the antiquary John Hopkinaon, of 
whose immense collections relating to 
the topography of Yorkshire, 40 vols.^ 
were in the possession of Miss Currer of 
Eshton-hall, and a great number of 
others in the possession of Mr. Symth 
of Heaton-hall. William Richardson d. 
without issue, and was buried at Brad- 
ford church, 22 Feb. 1648. He was 
succeeded by his brother, 

Richard Richardson, Esq., bap. at 
Bradford church 22 July 1604. m. there 
May 1621), to Jane, second da. of the 
said" George Hopkinson, Esq. I have 
now before me a Court Roll of Brad- 
ford manor, in which copyhold lands 
are surrendered in order to be settled 
upon her on marriage. She d. 19 and 
was buried at Bradford 22 Oct. 1662. 
He was seized at his death in 1656, as 
appears by his will, of the manors of 
Cleckheaton and Ukenshaw, and one 
fourth of the manor of Bradford. He 
had three sons; 

I. William of Bierley, of whom 
more hereafter. 

II. Richard of Newhall in Bowling, 
gent., bap. at Bradford 7 Feb. 1635, 
and buried there 21 June 1699, m. 
first in 1656, to Mary da. of Joseph 
Robertshaw: secondly in 1659, to 
Susannah da. of Mr. Field; and third- 
ly to Elizabeth da. of Robert Pawling. 
These wives were m. at Bradford 
church and buried there. By his third 
wife he had an only son, William, who 
died unm. at Tong, where he was 
buried in 1711. His estate at Newhall 
descended to his cousin, the late Rich- 
ard Richardson, Esq , and afterwards 
came to the possession of the late Miss 
Currer of Eshton-hall his great niece. 

III. John of Birks-hall, one of the 
lords of the manor of Bradford, bap. 
there 6 Jan. 1639, d. in 1697. He 
m. first Ann, da. of Robert Kent of 
Cold Henley, and had by her, 

1. Richard Richardson of Birks- 
hall, gent., bap. at Bradford 26 
April, 1665, d. unm. and was buried 
there 20 Aug. 1729. 

2. Ann, bap. at Bradford church 
2 June, 1666, m. William Nay lor 
of Wakefield, and had issue Dr. 
Charles Naylor, Dean of Winches- 
ter, and others. 

John of Birks-hall m. secondly 25 
May 1672, Hannah .sister of Arch- 
bishop Sharp. She was buried at Brad- 
ford 13 Jan. 1717, and had issue to 
her husband (besides other children,) 



1. John Richardson, A.M., 

at Bradford 20 Oct. 1675, precentor 

and one of the canons residentiary 
of York Minster; m Alathea, only 
da. and heiress of Mr. Wardman of 
Catfosa in Holderness. He d. 28 
Oct. 1735, and was buried in York 
Minster. 

2. Dorothy, b. 1673. m. Edmund 
Wickens. Rector of Kirby Thore in 
Westmorland, and had issue, among 
others, John Wickens, D.D. 

IV. George Richardson of Wood- 
hall, b. in 1644, m. Sarah, da. of 
Richard Langley. George's male line 
ceased with his grandson George 
who d. in 1J4S. 

V. Samuel, in holy orders, Rector 
of Bumham Sutton, Norfolk, b. in 
1647. His male line ceased with his 
grandson Joseph in 1763. leaving two 
daughters his co-heirs. 

VI. Joseph Richardson, Rector of 
Dunsfold and Hambledon in Surrey, 
b. 1648. m. in 16S3 Elizabeth, da. of 
John Peebles, Esq. He d. 18 June 
1742, and was succeeded by his only 
son Joseph, Barrister at Law, m. 
Elizabeth da. of John Minshall, Esq., 
and acquired by his wife considerable 
estates in Sussex, and from him are 
descended the Richardsona of Fin- 
den-place, Sussex. 

Joseph Richardson, Rector of Duns- 
fold, had also, (among others) a da., 
Elizabeth, who m. Thomas Warton, 
B.D , Vicar of Basingstoke, Hamp- 
shire, and Professor of Poetry in the 
University of Oxford. From tins 
match descended two men of great 
note in English Literature, viz. 

1. Rev. Joseph Warton, D.D. 
Prebendary of St. Paul's, and Head 
Master of Winchester School. He 
wrote many poetical pieces of great 
merit, and edited the works oi' 
Dryden and Pope. He had by his 
first wife (a Miss Daman) several 
sons and daughters. See Note 1. 

2. The Rev. Thomas Warton, 
B.D-, a celebrated Poet, whose 
works rank high. He was Rector 
of Cuddington, Oxfordshire, and 
Professor of Poetry in the Univer- 
sity of Oxford. He was the author 
of the History of English Poetry 
—a standard work. He held the 
post of Poet Laureate, and d. unm. 

VII. Elizabeth, m. to William Pol- 
lard of Bierley, gentleman. 

1 15 



PEDIGREE OF THE RICHARDSONS. 



VIII. Ann, ro. to William Brook 
of Birstal ; left issue, now extinct. 

IX. Judith, m. to John Thornton 
of Tyersall, and from this marriage 
the Symths of Heath -hall are de- 
scended. 

X. Sarah, m to William Dennison 
of Wakefield. 

William Richardson of Bierley, Esq., 
(before mentioned,) eldest son of Ri- 
chard Richardson, by Jane Hopkinson, 
was bap. at Bradford, 15 Oct. 1629; he 
m. at Elland 2 Aug. 1659, Susannah 
da. of Gilbert Savile of Greetland, Hali- 
fax, gent. She was buried at Bradford 
church 11 Oct. 1708. Her husband was 
buried there 8 June 1667. He had issue, 

I. The celebrated Dr. Richardson, 
of whom hereafter. 

II. William Richardson of High 
Fernley, Birstal, gent.; b. 10 July 
1666, m. first Mary da. and heiress 
of John Kirshaw, Hoyle-house, parish 
of Halifax; second Rachel Kirk, wi- 
dow. He was buried at Bradford 5 
Jan. 1716. By his first wife he had, 

1. John Richardson of High 
Fernley, who d. unm. in 1721. 
aged 28 ; buried at Cleckheaton. 

2. Richard Richardson, b. 1697, 
d. unm. 1720, and was buried at 
Bradford. 

3. Martha, who m. Edward Ive- 
son, and from whom are descended 
the Ivesons of Black Bank, near 
Leeds. 

III. Jane, only da., bap. at Bradford 
1660, m. Edward Ferrand of Harden 
Beck, and from her are descended 
the Ferrands of St. Ives. 

Richard Richardson, M.D., whose 
life has been sketched in the pre- 
ceding pages, was a Magistrate for 
the West- Riding. He m. first at Lud- 
denden, 9 Feb. 1699, Sarah da. of John 
Crossley. She d. 21 Oct. 1702, and was 
buried in Bradford church, where there 
is a monument to her memory. She left 
an infant son, who did not long survive 
her. He m, secondly, Dorothy second 
da. of Henry Currer of Kildwick, 27 
Dec. 1705 ; d. 5 Jan. 1763, and was 
buried iu Cleckheaton chapel beside her 
husband, who d. 21 April 1741. He 
had by his second wife, 

1. Richard Richardson of Bierley, 
Esq., Lord of the manor of Oken- 
shaw and Cleckheaton, Magistrate 
for the West-Riding, b. 26 Sept., 1/08, 
bap. at Bierley. He m. at Bolton-le- 
moore, 13 Feb. 1750, Dorothy only 
116 



da. and heiress of William Smallsbaw 
of that place. It was he that constructed 
the Druidical temple, & cat Bierley. Herf. 
without issue 30 Jan. 1781, and was buried 
at Cleckheaton chapel, where a handsome 
monument was erected to his memory by 
his great-niece, Miss Currer of Eshton- 
hall. His widow lived at Bierley-hall till 
within a very short period of her death, 
which happened 27 Nov. 1798. 

2. William of Ripon, M.D., b. 22 Feb. 
1709, bap. at Bradford. He was of St. 
John's College, Cambridge, and took there 
his Dr's. degree. He d. unm. at Ripon, 
23 July, 1783. and was buried at Cleck- 
heaton, where there is a monument erec- 
ted by his great- niece, Miss Currer. 

3. The Rev. Henry Richardson, A.M., 
of whom presently. 

4. John Richardson, Esq., who after 
the death of his mother and her sisters, 
assumed the name and arms of Currer, 
pursuant to the will of his cousin, Sarah 
Currer of Kildwick, and became possessed 
of her estate; b. 12 Nov. 1721; d. 22 
June 1784, unm. See Note 2. 

5. Thomas, b 3 April 1724, d. unm. at 
Hackney 1763. 

6. Dorothy Richardson, 6. 16 June, 
1712, m. at Wibsey chapel 29 July 1730, 
to Sir John Lister Kaye of Denby-grange, 
Yorkshire. She d. 15 Sept. 1772, leaving, 
besides other surviving issue. 

Sir Richard Kaye, Bart, LL.D., 

Dean of Lincoln. 

7- Margaret, b. 1714, d. unm. at Kild- 
wick, 1764. 

The Rev. Henry Richardson above men- 
tioned, third son of Dr. Richardson, was 
b. 24 March, 1710, bap. at Bradford. He 
matriculated at University College, Oxford, 
and was Rector of Thornton in Craven. He 
m. at Oldham 2 Decern. 1747, Mary, da. 
and heiress of Benjamin Dawson, Esq., of 
that place ; d, at Gargrave in 1800, aged 83, 
and buried at Thornton. Her husband d. 
27 March, 177S, buried at Thornton, where 
there is a graceful monument to their 
memory, by their grand -daughter, Miss 
Currer, He had issue, 

1. Richard Richardson, Esq.. b. 18 Jan. 
1755, at Thornton. Entered University 
College, Oxford. Captain in Sir Thomas 
Egerton's volunteers, d. unm. at Lisbon, 
where he had gone for the recovery of his 
health, 24 May, 1782, and is buried there. 

2. Henry Richardson, of whom pre- 
sently. 

3. Dorothy Richardson, b. 3 Oct. 1748 
d. at Gargrave unm. 30 June 1819, and 
was buried at Thornton. She was a lady 



NOTES.— PEDIGREE OP THE RICHARD SONS. 



of considerable literary attainments, and 
furnished the notices of the Richardson 
family which appear in Niehol's Illustra- 
tions of Literature. Dr. "Whitaker, in his 
'Craven' also acknowledges his obliga- 
tions to her, 

4. Mary Richardson, b. 3 Dec. 1753, 
m. 9 Jan. 1775, the Rev. William Roun- 
dell, A.M., of Gledstone-house, Craven. 
She d. 20 Dec 1S18, leaving a numerous 
issue— the Roundells of Gledstone-house. 

The Rev. Henry Richardson above men- 
tioned, second son of Henry Richardson, 
b. 9 Dec. 1758, bap. at Thornton. Educated 
at University College, Oxford. He became 
Rector of Thornton. M. at Gargrave, 3 
Feb. 1783, Margaret Clive Wilson,* only 
da. of Matthew Wilson of Eshton-hall, Esc]., 
by Frances da. of Richard Clive, Esq., of 
Styche, Salop, sister to Robert Lord Clive, 
ond a lineal descendant of the Royal line of 
Plantagenet (See Burke's Commoners vol. 3, 
p. 185) Mr. Richardson a little before his 
death, on the 10 Nov. 1784, upon succeeding 
to the estates of his uncle, John Currer above 
mentioned, took the surname of Currer. He 
was buried at Thornton, where a beautiful 
monument was erected by his only da. and 
heiress, 

Frances Mary Richardson Currer, b. the 
3 March, 1785, bap. at Gargrave 16 May, 
d. at Kshton Hall, until, in 1861, April 
28 5 owner of Bierley Hall, and family 
estates of the Richardsons of Bierley, 
which have now come to Wm. Wilson, 
Esq., of Eshton Hall. See Note 3. 



* After the death of Mr. Currer, she m. 
secondly her first cousin, Matthew Wilson 
Esq., late of Eshton-hall, deceased, by whom 
she had 

1. Matthew, B.A., a Magistrate for the 
West-Riding, now residing at Eshton-hall, 
6. 1802, m. 1826 Sophia Louisa Emerson, 
only da. and heiress of Sir Wharton Am- 
cotts, she d. in 1833 leaving issue, a son 
Matthew, b. at Bierley-hall in 1827. He 
is m. and has issue. 

2. Henry Currer, M.A., in holy orders, 
b. 1803. 

3. Margaret Frances Ann Clive now 
living unm. 

4. Frances Mary, m. to John Tennant, 
Esq., Kild wick-hall, s.p. 

5. Henrietta Fourness, m. to Charles 
Turner, Esq., by whom she had issue. 



NOTES. 

0) 

The names of Joseph and Thomas War- 
ton are dear to all lovers of good old English 
literature. Joseph Warton, D.D., was the 
author of an "Essay on the Genius and 
Writings of Pope," London : 1756, 82. 8vo., 
2 volumes. This is one of the most elegant 
and interesting works on criticism in°the 
English language. The first volume was 
ably reviewed by Dr. Johnson in the Liter- 
ary Magazine. The work was also repub- 
lished by R. and J. Dodsley, in 1762. YV'ar- 
ton also wrote a work, — %l Odes on various 
Subjects." London: 1746, 4to., p.p., 47. 
These were also reprinted in Sharpe's edition 
of the Poets. After his death appeared— 
"Biographical Memoirs of the late Rev. 
Joseph VVarton, D.D. : to which are added* 
a selection from his works; and a Literary 
Correspondence between Eminent Persons, 
reserved by him for publication. By the' 
Rev. John Wood, A.M." London, lS06,4to 
with portrait of Warton. 

Thomas Warton was a voluminous author, 
was Poet Laureate, and published in 1774 
78 81, 4to., in three volumes, his famous 
History of English Poetry. The following 
is a copy of the title of this work, published 
in 1824, in 4 vols., 8vo., with portrait. Lon- 
don. « The History of English Poetry, from 
the Close of the Uth to the Commencement 
of the 1 8th«Century : To which are prefixed 
three Dissertations: I. Of the Origin of 
Romantic Fiction in Europe. 2. On the 
Introduction of Learning into England, 3. 
On the Gesta Romanorum. With numerous 
Notes by the late Mr. Ritson, the late Dr 
Ashby, Mr. Douce, Mr. Park, and other 
eminent Antiquaries, and by the Editor 
(Richard Price)." In 1840 another edition 
was published with notes by Sir F. Madden 
Mr. Thorpe, Mr. J. M. Kemble, Mr. Thus' 
Wright, Mr. W. I. Thomas, and others, be- 
sides those of Richard Taylor, the learned 
printer under whose superintendence it was 
prepared.^ This is in 3 vols., portrait. A 
most curious, valuable and interesting liter- 
ary history: 

The following is a list of his other writings : 
—'Observations on the Faerie Queene°of 
Spenser, by Thomas Warton.' London. 
1752, 8vo, A great part of this valuable 
work has been incorporated in Mr. Todd's 
edition of the poet. A second edition of this 
book appeared in 17G2, in 8vo., 2 vols. Also 
*A Companion to the Guide, and a Guide 
to the Companion: being a complete Sup- 
plement to all the Accounts of Oxford 

117 



NOTES.— THE RICHARDSONS. 



liithc-rto published,'' etc. London: for IT. 
Payne, 12mo., p.p. 40, with 4 woodcuts. 
An elegant Jeu d' esprit, pub. anonymously. 
* The Life and Literary remains ot Ralph 
Bathhurst, M.D., Dean of Wells. Lond. 
Dodsley, 1761. 8vo.' This, says Grainger, 
' being almost the only one of our books that 
finds a ready admittance into the Libraries 
of M onks, has rendered it scarce.' ' The Life 
of Sir Thomas Tope, Founder of Trinity 
College, Oxford.' London, 1772. A' Model 
in its Way.' 'Specimen of a History of 
Oxfordshire, being the History and Antiqui- 
ties of Kiddington, by T. Warton.' 1782, 
4to. 'A Description of the City, Cathedral 
and College of Winchester.' Lond. 12mo., 
and the ' Winchester Guide.' 

There was also published, — Poems on 
Several Occasions. London, 1J4S, 8vo., 3s. 
Also a republication, consisting of 228 pages, 
dedicated to Fulwar, Lord Craven, by Jo- 
seph Warton, D.D. New edition, 1777, 8vo., 
3s. In 1802 there appeared, — ' The Poetical 
Works of the late Thomas Warton, B.D., 
Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford; and 
Poet Laureate; 5th edition, corrected and 
enlarged, to which are now added, Inscripti- 
onum Romanarum Delectus, and an Inaug- 
ural Speech as Camden Professor of History, 
together with Memoirs of his Life and Writ- 
ings; and Notes hy Richard Mant, M.A. 
Lond. 1802, 8vo., 2 vols.' Also with Me- 
moir and Critical Essay, by George Gilfillan. 
Edinburgh. 1854, 8vo.,"4s. 6d, See the 
Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 73, p*age 329* 

The great Robert Southey, in his " Speci- 
mens of the Later English Poets," 3 vols., 
1807, writes thus of the Warton's, — " Thomas 
Warton's prose-works are confused and de- 
sultory. His poetry is like a new medal, 
spotted with artificial rust; yet there is no 
man of his generation to whom our literature 
is .to much indebted, except Percy. He bore 
a great part in what ma}' be called our Po- 
etical Reformation — in recalling us from a 
blind faith in idols, to the study of the true 
books." Of Joseph Warton, he gays,—" The 
poems of Jo.-eph Warton should be collected, 
for the Wartons have deserved well of litera- 
ture; he published, 1. The Enthusiast, or 
Love of Nature, 1745: which with Fashion 
and Satire, is preserved in Dodslejr's Collec- 
tion. 2. Odes on Various Subjects, 1; 
Thomas was born 1728, died 17^0. Joseph, 
1722 18' 0. 



(2) 



John Richardson Currer, the 4th son of 
Dr. K., deserves particular mention. He 
was born at Bierley Hall, Nov. 12,1721, 

118 



baptised at Bradford Dec. 13th following, 
died at Paddington, near London, June 24th, 
1784, and was buried at Kildwick, July 11th. 
He assumed the name of Currer, and by the 
will of his cousin, Sarah Currer, succeeded 
to her seat at Kildwick, and all her estates ; 
was in the Commission of the Peace, and 
Deputy Lieutenant for the West- Riding of 
Yorkshire. He died unmarried. Dr. Whi- 
taker calls him his " benefactor and fore- 
runner in the History of Craven." From 
this I infer that, like his father he was de- 
voted also to literature- The following 
epitaph, composed in Latin by Dr. Whitaker, 
and now on a monument in the chapel where 
he was interred, has been kindly translated 
for me by a friend: — " H. S. E. John 

RlCHARDSON CURRKIt, EsQUIRK, LoRD OF THK 

Manor, justly admitted into thk Society 
ok London Antiquaries; a Man most 

LEARNED IN THK ANTIQUITIES OP HIS (native) 

County: Op these he had compiled a most 
elhgant and well adjusted work, thk 
History op Craven, and unless a prema- 
ture DEATH HAD PRKVBKTKD, WAS ABOUT TO 

make it public. but so great hopes 
perished not in vain, and his long neg- 
lkcted honours at length flourish once 
more : For in the beginning of the nine- 
teenth CENTURY, UNDER HAPPIER OMiNS, 
THE DISSOLVED ASHES OP THE HISTORIAN AT 
LENGTH UNITE, REVIVED PROM THE DU8T. M 



(3) 



Miss Frances Mary Richardson Currer, 
died at Eshton Hall, near Gargrave, four 
miles west of Skipton, on the 28th of April, 
1.-61. She was the last direct descendant in 
the female line of the ancient family of the 
Richardsons of Bierley Hall, near Bradford. 
On rhe 16th of May 1861, the following no- 
tice of this estimable lady, appeared in the 
Bradford Observe' - : — 

"The family of the Richardsons can be 
traced back to very early times. One Ni- 
cholas Richardson, of the county of Durham, 
came into Yorkshire in 1561. He died in 
1616,, and was succeeded by Ids son Richard, 
who resided in the township of Fast Bierley. 
He was born in 1576, and married for his 
first wife, in 1599, Anna, daughter and heir 
of William Pollard, of North Bierley, who 
dying, was buried in the parish church of 
Bradford. August 14, 1694. He married for 
his second wife, in the year 1626, Susannah 
Swaine, of Bradford, widow, by whom he 
had no issue. The eldest son of his first 
marriage was William, who was baptised at 
the parish church, Bradford, August 22. 
1602, and who married Elizabeth, eldest 



NOTES.— THE RICHARDSONS. 



aughter of George Hapkinson, of Lofthouse, 
sister to the great antiquary, William Hop- 
kinson, of whose extensive collections relat- 
ing to the topography of Yorkshire, forty 
volumes were in the possession of the lady 
whose removal by death it is our painful 
task to record He was succeeded by his 
brother Richard, who left a son, William, 
the father of the celebrated Dr. Richardson, 
of High Fernley, in the township of North 
Bierley, and Jane, married to Edward Fer- 
rand, of Harden Heck, from whom springs 
the present Ferrand family. The above Dr. 
Richardson was twice married ; first, to 
Sarah, daughter and heiress of John Crossley, 
of Kirshaw House, in the parish of Halifax, 
and of Crossley Hall, in this parish, who 
died in 1702, leaving no issue; and secondly, 
to Dorothy, second daughter of Henry Cur- 
rer, Esq, of Kildwick, near Skipton, and 
had by her twelve children, seven of whom 
outlived her. This Dr. Richardson died 
April 21, 1741, aged 77 years, and was buried 
in White Chapel, in the parish of Birstal. 
Dr. Richardson was succeeded by his fourth 
son, the Rev. Henry Richardson, who was 
rector of Thornton, in Craven ; and he in 
his turn was succeeded by a son of the same 
name, also a clergyman, and also rector of 
Thornton. A little before his death he took 
the surname of Currer, upon succeeding to 
the estates of Sarah Currer, of Kildwick. 
This gentleman was the father of the lady 
whose death we now record; he died in 
1784, leaving a widow, who afterwards mar- 
ried her first cousin, Matthew Wilson, Esq., 
then a solicitor, of London. This marks the 
line of succession of the Richardson family 
to the Kildwick and Eshton property. It is 
said that the library belongiug to the late 
Miss Currer contains one of the finest private 
collections of books in the kingdom, and is 
particularly rich in manuscript lore. This 
lady whose loss we deplore, was little known 
beyond the circle of her private friends; but 
there she was highly valued by all who had 
the privilege of her acquaintance. In her the 
poor found a warm and liberal benefactress ; 
and her name will long be held in grateful 
remembrance by a large and intelligent ten- 
antry." 

A portion of the valuable library of books 
collected by the Richardson family, were 
sold at auction, in London, by Messrs. So- 
theby and Wilkinson, Wellington Street, 
Strand, on the 30th July, 1861, and nine 
following days. 

The catalogue makes a pamphlet of 212 
pages, and the books, numbering 20,000 
volumes, were in 2,681 lots. The works 
include every department of both English 



and foreign litrrature, ancient and modern. 
Biographical, antiquarian and picturesque, 
works abound ; and there are, besides, many 
manuscripts, some of which are written on 
vellum. Amongst the latter, there is '» The 
original commission to Peter Mauleverer, 
William Gargrave and others, to collect the 
subsidies in the West Riding, 10, Richard 
II. (1386)." Black letter copies of books of 
the J 5th and 16th centuries also abound, 
with many classical works from the ancient 
library of the Richardsons, of Bierley, which 
were removed, many years ago, to' Eshton. 
Many original autograph letters were sold. 
Among them are some by King James VI.,' 
of Scotland, 1st of England; King Charles 
I.; William, Duke of Newcastle; the 
Duchess of Newcastle; William Penn, the 
founder of Pennsylvania; Alexander Pope, 
the poet ; Sir William Jones, Warton and 
others. A very good collection. There were 
sold, also, a valuable cabinet of Greek, Ro- 
man and English coins. The topographical 
works on Yorkshire were much more scarce 
at this sale than I had expected. But, as 
this was only a "portion" of Miss Currer, s 
books, I hope that the best treatises on th e 
above subject have been kept back ; if so, 
the fact is a matter of congratulation. 



In compiling the preceding papers, I am 
indebted to the following works:— 

The Life of Abraham Sharp, mathema- 
tician, is copied from the "British Encyclo- 
pedia, or Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. 
By Wm. Nicholson. London: Longman, 
Hurst, Rees and Orme, Paternoster Row ; 
1809." See also an excellent sketch by Mr. 
John James, in the History of Bradford. 
Also Huttou's "Mathematical and Philoso- 
phical Dictionary; volume 2. London, 1745, 
page 445. In drawing up the foregoing 
notes on the Richardson family, I have con- 
sulted " Lowndes's Bibliographers Manual," 
Bohn's edition ; Southey's Minor or " Later 
Poets ;" Whitaker's History of Craven ; Mr. 
James's "History of Bradford, and the 
Bradford Observer." 

The reader who may wish to know mor e 
may consult with advantage, a work entitled 
— Extracts from the Literary and Scientific 
Correspondence of Richard Richardson, of x 
Bierley, Yorkshire, with Memoir of the 
Richardson Family, of Bierley, near Brad- 
ford, in the West Riding of the County of 
York, thick 8vo, portrait and views at 
Bierley, edited by Dawson Turner, Esq , and 
Privately Printed at Yarmouth, 1835. 

In the year 1820, Miss Mary Richardson 

119 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN AND BOROUGH OF BRADFORD. 



Currer, printed, all for presents, forty copies 
of ji ' k Catalogue of the Library at Eshton 
Hall, in the Deanery of Craven, and County 
of York," excellently arranged by Triphook. 
In 1823 a copy of this catalogue was sold at 
Sotheby's for £1 8s. 



THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF 

THE TOWN AND BOROUGH 

OF BRADFORD. 

By the late Rev. Joshua Fawcett, M.A.* 

There are few subjects at the present time 
of much greater interest and importance than 
the increase and spread of the population, 
especially in the mining and manufacturing 
districts of Great Britain. 

If we trace back the history of our country 
to the very earliest period, we find those dis- 
tricts (in many cases) which were the most 
populous, now the least so •, and vice versa, 
those which were the least populous, now the 
most so. 

Cities, properly so called, are first men- 
tioned in Britain by Tacitus, the Roman his- 
torian, circa A.D., 90; and he notices but 
three, all in the South of Britain, and per- 
haps all founded by the Romans— viz., Ca- 
molodunum (Colchester), Londinium (Lon- 
don), and Verulamium (St. Albans). Ptole- 
my, writing circa A.D. 150, mentions nine 
in the Brigantian territory alone; so im- 
proved was the country, or so enlarged the 
knowledge of it in about half a century. To 
mention no more, one centre of ancient 
population distinctly connected with British 
and Saxon history, may be fixed at Barwick 
in Elmet, near Leeds, part of a system of 
earthworks which embraced Killingbeck, 
Aberford. and Bramham Moor. Another 
centre may be discovered at Isurium Bri- 
gantium, or Aldborough, near Borougbridge. 
The moorlands of the North East, at pre- 
sent entirely without population, were once 
the sites of thriving British villages, indicated 
by British remains in the form of entrench- 
ments, camps, dikes, tumuli, pits, &c. ; as, 
for instance, at Egton, Goadland, &c, near 
Whitby, and even the summit of Rosebery 



» This paper was read before the Mem- 
bers of the " National Association for the 
Promotion of Social Science," at their 
annual Meeting held in St. George's Hall, 
Bradford, Oct. 1859. At the risk of a little 
repitition, I think it best to reprint it almost 
verbatim as delivered. 

120 



Topping. Along the Southern edge of the 
moors we find a line of ancient villages, 
overlooking the vale of Pickering below. 
On the Eastern side of the vale of York, the 
dry wold hills were thickly peopled along 
their edges. The country around Malton 
was, in early times, the most peopled part of 
Yorkshire, and so it remained till a compa- 
ratively late period. It is remarkable how 
two ranges of villages skirted the two great 
chains of hills in Yorkshire— viz., the Wolds, 
from the Humber, near Brough, round by 
Malton to Hunmanby and Filey, ; and the 
moorlands from near Scarborough, by Helm- 
sley and Thirsk, to the north of the Tees. 
Any one conversant with those localities will 
readily trace the line of villages or towns here 
referred to. It is worthy of remark that 
when Caesar invaded this island, its soil and 
its shores maintained as many inhabitants as 
modern European Russia supports on the 
same space; and it is probable Britain might 
have a population of one million and a half. 
The wars and tyranny of King William 
the Conqueror tended greatly to diminish 
the population. According to a register made 
at that time by order of the King, we find 
that the number of inhabitants was dimi- 
nished in the chief towns in England to about 
one half of what it had been in the preceding 
reign. Thus the number of inhabited houses 
in York was reduced from 1607 to 967 ; in 
Oxford, from 721 to 243; in Chester, from 
487 to 282 j in Derby, from 243 to 103 ; in 
Dorchester, 100 houses out of 172 were de- 
serted. In 1821, the number of occupied 
houses in these towns was as follows: — York, 
3,206; Oxford, 2,431; Chester, 3,861; Derby, 
3,381 ; Dorchester, 168. York being sur- 
rounded with walls, has had a greater check 
to its growth than other large towns ; and 
Dorchester has been changed from a city to 
a village, by the removal of its bishop to 
Lincoln, whilst Derby, on the other hand, 
has been accidentally increased by the esta- 
blishment of manufactures. Balancing these 
things together, these towns may give a just 
notion of the comparative number of inhabited 
houses in the Conqueror's time and the pre- 
sent. In his reign, the number in all these 
places taken together was 1,667. In the late 
enumeration it is 13,04/. or more than eight 
times as great. At present, however, the 
number of inhabitants in each house averages 
between five aud six. It is probable they 
lived in a more crowded state at the Con- 
quest ; if wc allow between six and seven to 
a house, then the population has increased 
seven-fold. 

About the year 1370, in the reign of King 
Edward III., the population of England 






PROGRESS OF THE TOWN AND BOROUGH OF BRADFORD 



amounted to 2,300,000, not more than the 
number of inhabitants of the counties of 
York and Lancaster alone, about twenty- 
years ago. This number was lower than 
what would have been the natural increase, 
owing to the wars, and plague, and famine 
which had occurred in that and the previous 
reigns. If we now pass on to the reign of King 
liichard III., circa A.D. 1450, we find that, 
owing to a pestilence, the population sunk 
down to fewer than two million souls. 

Advancing to the reign of King William 
and Mary, we find from returns made under 
what was called the Hearth Tax, (i.e., a tax 
collected from every family having a hearth 
on which to burn a fire,) that the number of 
houses in England was not quite 140,000, 
which makes it probable that the then popu- 
lation was about 7,000,000. At the close of 
King George Third's reign the number of 
houses and people was nearly double. In 
li>ll the whole number of families in Great 
Britain was 2,544,215, and the number em- 
ployed in trade and manufactures was 
1,129,549 families. 

But to proceed to the more immediate 
subject of this paper, namely, the rise and 
growth of Bradford, considered in reference 
to its population, manufactures, buildings, &c. 

Population. 

This locality was in the kingdom of the 
Brigantes, or belonged to that tribe. It has 
been conjectured that the name Brigantes is 
derived from the British word u Brigantwys," 
meaning the inhabitants of hilly regions. It 
is not improbable that the present town of 
Bradford may be on the site of an ancient 
Brigantian one, which town would consist 
merely of " an irregular collection of huts in 
the midst of a forest, defended with a barrier 
formed of trees felled around, or circum- 
scribed with a ditch." That the immediate 
neighbourhood was woody, may be gathered 
from the names of many old places and 
houses, as, for instance, Miryshay, Boldshay, 
Birkshall, &c, &c, the word shay meaning 
a woody toft, and the word birk meaning 
birch. Whether there be any satisfactory 
proof of British remains in this parish or no 
I leave others to determine ? but certain it is 
that a British trackway or roadway must 
have run not far from the present town, as 
we know of such a British way having passed 
through Lightcliffe, and probably over Low 
Moor, and gone in the direction of Isurium, 
the ancient capital of the Britons, now called 
Aldborough. What would be the amount of 
population at this period, it is perhaps im- 
possible to form any conjecture. The same 
uncertainty prevails as to the period of the 



Romans. During the Saxon rule, Bradford 
was within the kingdom of Deira, and after- 
wards in that of Northumbria, one of the 
kingdoms of the Heptarchy. (1) Here again, 
we are equally at a loss to form any idea of 
the population of this town. When, however, 
we come to the period of the Norman sway, 
having written record to assist us, conjecture 
gives way to something more satisfactory 
and defined. From an inquisition taken at 
Pontefract, March 3, 1311. upon the death 
of the Earl of Lincoln, of all his lands and 
other territorial possessions, so far as relates 
to the town of Bradford, we find that the 
whole township consisted of about 1,600 acres 
of land, and that about 1,000 of these were 
in a state of cultivation. Now, allowing ten 
acres of land for every family in the town, 
the number would be one hundred. There 
were also 29 burgage houses, and, reckoning 
one family for each house, there would be 
29 families, which, at five persons to a family, 
would give a population of 645 persons. If 
we advance to the period when Bradford had 
passed from the Lacies to the Crown, we find 
that in the year 1600 or thereabouts, Brad- 
ford -would probably consist of about 2,500 
persons. In 1781 the population is said to 
have consisted of 4,200 persons; and the 
window duty being paid upon 400 houses, 
would indicate that half the population was 
above the condition of cottagers. Leland, in 
his '« Itinerary," writing of the state of this 
county in the reign of King Henry III., 
gives the following curious account of the 
town of Bradford : — " Bradforde, a praty 
quick market towne, dimideo aut eo amplius, 
minus Wackfelda. It hath one paroche 
churche, and a chapel of Saint Sitha. It 
standeth much by clothing, and is distant vi 
miles from Halifax, and four from Christeal 
Abbay." The same authority says, "Ledis 
two miles lower than Christeal Abbay, on 
Aire Ryver, is a praty market, having one 
paroche chirche, reasonably well builded 
(that is the towne), and as large as Bradforde, 
but not so quick." It is a curious fact that, 
whilst towards the close of the sixteenth cen- 
tury, Bradford, and Leeds contained about 
the same number of inhabitants, yet, in a 
few years later, viz., early in the seventeenth 
century, Leeds had so rapidly increased in 
size as to double the population of Bradford. 
Clarendon, in his " History of the Civil 
Wars," vol. 2, part 1, speaking of the strength 
the parliament had in the North, says, "Leeds, 
Halifax, and Bradford, three very populous 
towns, &c." 

It may be interesting to cite instances of 
the increase of the population in other places 
of a somewhat similar character. The county 

121 



PROGRESS OP THE TOWN AND BOROUGH OF BRADFORD. 



of Lancaster in 1700 contained a population 
of 166.000; at the last census it was 
2,063,913. Liverpool in 1555 had but 28 
houses, with a population of 138; in 1851 
its population was 258,236. In the reign of 
King Richard IIL the population of London 
was 35.000; in 1851 it was 2,361,640. In 
1700 Birmingham had a population of only 
4,000, whereas now it reaches nearly 240,000, 
being more than the entire population of 
Warwickshire in 1801. the population of the 
county being then 206,798. We have much 
nearer and in more modern days perhaps a 
more remarkable instance than any of these 
— viz., in the case of Middlesborough, in the 
north of this county. In 1801 its population 
was 25; in 1815,35; in 1821,40; in 1831, 
154; in 1841, 5 463; in 1851, 7,000 

The following figures show the rate of in- 
crease in the township of Bradford since 
1801:— In 1801, 6,393; 1811,7,767; 1821, 
13,014; 1832,22 223; 1841,34,560; 1851, 
52,501. In the four townships comprised 
within the present borough of Bradford, in 
1801, 13,264; 1811, 16,012, or 27.48, or 20 
per cent; 1821, 26.209, or 10,297, or 64 per 
cent; 1831, 43,527, or 17,218, or 65 per 
cent.; 1841, 66,718, or 23,191, or 54 per 
cent.; 1851, 103,783, or 87,066, or 55 per 
cent. The average rate for the last fifty years 
has been rather over 5 per cent, for Bradford, 
while for Great Britain it has been only 1.37 
per cent. The whole population of the bo- 
rough is calculated to be now about 130,000, 
and increasing at the rate of 2,000 a year. 
To show, however, how fluctuating the popu- 
lation is, and how much it depends on the 
state of trade, about 15 or 16 years ago, 
when trade was in a very flourishing condi- 
tion, the population for 15 months increased, 
owing to immigration as well as births, at 
the rate of 1000 per month. 

If we compare the rate of increase in the 
four townships comprised within the borough, 
we find the following amounts of popula- 
tion : — 

1801 1851 

Bradford 6,393 52.401 or 8 times. 

Horton 3,459 28.142 or 8 „ 

Bowling 2,055 15.542 or 7 „ 

Manningham 1.357 9.601 or 7 „ 

"Whereas, in the outlying townships com- 
prised within the parish, the rate of increase 
has not been, upon the average, more than 
2$ times. 

It will be well for us to compare the rate 
of increase in Bradford with some of its 
neighbouring towns, which are similarly cir- 
cumstanced as places of trade and commerce, 
and partaking of similar advantages, as to 

122 



coal, stone, water, land carriage, railways, 
&c.:— 





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* This includes spinners and weavers. 

In 1814 there were only three firms of 
worsted spinners, seven do. of spinners and 
manufacturers, and two stuff merchants. A 
few remarks on the stuff" trade of Bradford 
will not be out of place here. In the rise 
and growth of the trade of Bradford, we have 
the secret of the increase of the population, 
on the principle of demand creating supply. 
It must be borne in mind that the original 
trade of Bradford was in woollen and cotton 
and not in worsted goods. Those who wish 
for the most accurate information on this sub- 
ject should consult an admirable work enti- 
tled "History of the Worsted Manufacture in 
England," by John James, F.S.A., which 
not only contains most valuable matter 
touching the trade generally, but also in its 
more special reference to this immediate lo- 
cality. At so early a period as 1316, we find 
there was a fulling mill near this town, and, 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN AND BOROUGH OF BRADFORD. 



p.s Mr. James says, it may be inferred from 
the considerable annual rent which it brought 
to the Lord of the Manor, that, at it, large 
quantities of cloth were fulled. Yea, prior 
to this time, we have proof that the woollen 
trade was carried on in the neighbourhood ; 
for we find in the Hundred Rolls of 1284, a 
record of a weaver of the name of Evan?, of 
Gomersal, who was imprisoned in Bradford 
Jail. And also, we maj' infer the same from 
the name of Frizinghall, a small hamlet close 
to Bradford, mentioned in 1287, probably so 
named from friezes being there made. It 
would appear also from a notice by Leland, 
that the inhabitants of Bradford "stood much 
by clothing," that in the reign of King 
Henry VIII., that trade was flourishing 
here ; and previous to the civil wars it was at 
the height of its prosperity in the manufac- 
ture of woollen cloths, as Clarendon calls it 
" rich and populous, and depending upon 
clothiers." Alter the civil wars, as the town 
declined, so the woollen manufacture of 
Bradford gradually decayed, and in time 
died away. For the space of a century, the 
town did not recover from the shock which 
the civil wars had given to its prosperity. In 
the early part of the last century, the worsted 
trade sprung up, and since then has been the 
staple of the town and neighbourhood. We 
find from history that there have been two 
attempts, happily unsuccessful, to put a stop 
to the trade of the town. In the Court Rolls 
of 16J8, is the following order made by the 
Leet Jury: — " That the inhabitants of Brad- 
ford shaii not let any houses to persons to be 
clothiers, upon paine of 39s. lid. every 
month ; or set on work any fit to be servants, 
except datal men." The second attempt was 
to hinder Mr. Buckley Irom erecting a fac- 
tory here, to be wrought by a steam engine. 
This was in the year 1793. The site of the 
intended mill was in the present Manchester- 
road. A number of the more influential in- 
habitants in that part of the town signed a 
notice, threatening Mr. Buckley with an 
action at law, in case he should persist in 
carrying out his proposed scheme. The no- 
tice, which is a curiosity in its way, and had 
its effect, ran thus: — 

"To Mr. John Buckley, cotton manufac- 
turer, in Bradford, in the West Riding of the 
county of York: Take notice, that if either 
you, or any other person in connexion with 
you, shall presume to erect or build any 
steam engine for the manufacture of cotton 
or wool, in a certain field in Horton, near 
Bradford aforesaid, called or known by the 
name of Brick-kiln Field, we whose names 
are hereunto subscribed shall, if the same be 



found a nuisance, seek such redress as the 
law will give. Witness our hands this 23rd 
January, 1793." 

It is a curious fact that some of the per- 
sons who signed this document were after 
wards themselves largely concerned in the 
manufacture of this town, and that they and 
their descendants have reaped liberally the 
benefits which have been derived therefrom. 
It is related as a piece of tradition that the 
first steam boiler had to be conveyed in a 
round-about way to its place of destination 
in the Holms, Bradford, the streets being so 
narrow as not to admit of its passage. This 
important work was only for a short time de- 
layed. In the year 1800, Messrs. Ramsbo- 
tham, Swaine, and Murgatroyd, determined, 
notwithstanding the strong popular feeling 
against it, upon the erection of a mill. The 
steam engine was to be of only limited size, 
viz., 15 horse power. This was soon followed 
by the erection of others, with what rapidity 
and success the facts and figures already 
given have shown, and the following will still 
further prove. 

Perhaps there cannot be a better test of 
the relative growth of the worsted manufac- 
ture in Bradford than the drawback accounts, 
the said drawback accounts being very cor- 
rect measures of the quantities of wool 
worked up in the town. The following are 
decennial periods:— In 1810, 1,633,920 lbs.; 
in 1820, 4,629,120 lbs.; in 1S30, 10,095,260 
lbs.; in 1840, 12,124,400 lbs.; in 1850, 
21,121,280 lbs. If this table were carried for- 
ward to the present time, it would probably 
show that the consumption of wool in less 
than 50 years had increased 16 or 17 fold. 

If we now compare Bradford with Halifax 
and Keighley in this respect, we shall find 
that the consumption in Halifax, in 1650, 
was only about two-thirds of that in Brad- 
ford, and in Keighley of less than one- fourth ; 
yea, that the consumption of Bradford was 
equal to that of both Halifax and Keighley, 
and exceeded one- fourth of the whole of that 
claimed by the West Riding : — 

lbs. 

Bradford 21,121,280. 

Halifax 14,423,040. 

Keighley 5,941,160. 

In respect of the increased number of 
houses, I can only give figures from the year 
1851, and this I do from the Registrar 
General's Return for 1851. The returns of 
the Building and Improvement Committee 
of the Town Council since that date in the 
borough, are :— In 1851, 18,728 houses; 

123 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN AND BOROUGH OF BRADFORD. 



1352, 1S.949 houses; 1853, 20,307 houses; 
1854, 21,859 houses; 1855, 22,260 houses; 
1856, 23,897 houses; 1857, 24,495 houses; 
1858, 24,905 houses. 

Rateable Value of Property. 

The increased rateable value of property 
in the borough marks the same rapid growth 
of the town. In the year 1841 the value was 
.£137,778 0s. 0s. ,— in 1851 the value was 
£201.717 3s. Od ,— in 1858 the value was 
£272,749, 0s. Od. To this I may add the 
remarkable increase in the saleable value of 
property. For instance, the land upon which 
St. George's Hall stands was bought at a cost 
of £5 per square yard ; and the small plot 
in front of the grand entrance is now valued 
at £10 per square yard. 

The amount of the Borough Rate collected 
therein marks the same: — In 1851 it was 
£21,847 3s. 108., in 1858 it was £30,534 
17s, 2£d. The number of Parliamentary 
Voters in the borough marks the same:— In 
1835, 1,139; 1841, 1,714-, 1847, 1,966; 

1858, 3,599. 

Bradford Savings' Bank. 

The following brief statement relative to 
the Bradford Savings' Bank, proves again the 
rise and progress of our town, and with it 
the increased thrift in the habits of the people. 
The Savings' Bank was opened in August, 
1818. The number of depositors in the first 
9 months was 146, the amount deposited, 
,£2,497. The sum repaid during that time 
was £210. From May 20, 1858, to May 20, 

1859, the accounts stood thus :— Receipts, 
£43,084 17s. 3d.; payments, £39,847, 13s. 
7d. ; the number of open accounts, May 20, 
1859, was £7,436; and amount of deposits 
£168,711 17s. 3d. 

Religious and Educational Buildings 
and Institutions. 

I consider no sketch of the rise and pro- 
gress of this town would be at all satisfactory 
which omitted to mention its Religious and 
Educational Buildings and Institutions. I 
cannot go back further than 1801 with any 
degree of correctness or certainty. In 1801 
I find that there were 2 churches and 4 dis- 
senting chapels for the entire population of 
the borough ; the accommodation in these 
places of worship would not be for more 
than 5,600 persons, on the most liberal al- 
lowance, and this for a population of 13,264. 
Taking the necessary per centage of accom- 
modation for them, at 58 per cent, it is quite 
124 



clear that in 1801 the accommodation fell 
short of the requirements of the people. In 
1851, the accommodation in the then 54 
churches and chapels, amounted to 32,287, 
in a population amounting to 103,786. From 
this it is clear that the deficiency in accom- 
modation had increased, or rather that the 
supply had not kept pace with the demand. 
What the amount of Sunday School accom- 
modation there might have been in 1801, I 
have no accurate means of judging, but 
imagine that I do not overstate it, when I 
put it at 2,500 children. The amount of 
Sunday School accommodation in 1S51, was 
for 16,037, in 59 schools. There is here a 
corresponding deficiency. The proportion of 
scholars to the population at this latter period 
was of day scholars, 1 in 10.83 : of Sunday 
scholars, 1, 6.45. The places of religious 
worship, in 1801, numbered 6; in 1851 they 
numbered 54. It is worthy of notice that 
when the number of attendants of public 
worship was taken in March 30, 1851, there 
were in the 54 places of worship, the follow- 
ing:— Morning, 20,433; afternoon, 9,579; 
evening, 14,288 ; or 44,300 persons attending 
public worship on that day. 

Supply of Water. 

I think it will not be uninteresting to trace 
the rise and progress of the town of Bradford 
in respect to its supply of water by means of 
water works. On October 30, 1744, a preli- 
minary meeting was held in Bradford, at 
which the indenture of co-partnership made 
between certain parties forming a company to 
carry water from Haycliffe Hill, in the town- 
ship of Horton, to Bradford, was entered into. 
Contracts for pipes were let at the same 
meeting, and arrangements made for com- 
mencing the work. In the 30th year of the 
reign of King George III. (A D., 1790), an 
Act was passed, entitled "An Act for pre- 
serving the works made fur supplying the 
town of Bradford, in the county of York, 
and part of the township of Little Horton, 
with water ; for the more easy recovery of the 
rents for the said water, and to enable the 
proprietors to borrow money for improving 
such works." These works were tor a long 
time under the managemant of Mr. William 
Thornton, formerly of Westgate, Bradford, 
solicitor. The first reservoir is existent, and 
near the dwelling of a celebrated green 
grocer, who has lived 60 years in her present 
habitation, and never slept a night out of it. 
She is now about 84 years of age, and is 
known by the euphonous name of " Old 
Judy."(2) There were but ten shares in the 
original company of proprietors, and these 



PROGRESS OF THE TOWN AND BOROUGH OF BRADFORD- 



were held by the following gentlemen: — 
Messrs. Hardy, Smith, Sclater, Crossley, and 
a proprietor whose name I do not remember. 
In the year 1843 the above proprietary was 
wound up, and the works transferred to the 
Jate company, but ultimately abandoned. 
The first general meeting of "The Bradford 
Water Works Company," constituted by Act 
of 5ih of Victoria, met May 13, 1842. In 
the year 1854, this company's rights and 
works were purchased by the Corporation, 
who have now the sole supply of this invalu- 
able element to the increasing population of 
the borough. Now, at a cost of something 
like £650,000 sterling, water will be supplied 
from the respective distances of 24andl0miles, 
at the rate of 10,000,000 gallons per diem. 
The supply fromBarden isobtained from moor 
land,risingl,650feet,that fromThorntonMoor, 
1,400, above the level of the sea. The Bar- 
den supply is for the lower parts of the 
borough, and is calculated to furnish 8,500,000 
gallons daily ; the latter from beyond Den- 
holme, is for the higher parts of the borough, 
and calculated to furnish 1,000,000 gallons 
daily, which, with the 500,000 gallons at 
present obtained, will make up the above- 
named 10,000,000 gallons of daily supply. 

Drainage. 

I cannot pass over another feature in the 
history of the rise and progress, of Bradford, 
and that is its arterial drainage. The plan of 
the Borough Surveyor shows the system of 
drainage which it is in contemplation to 
carry out, and which, when completed, will 
render Bradford in this respect, as well as in 
its water supply, equal, if not superior, to 
the best regulated and circumstanced town 
in the United Kingdom. It is highly pro- 
bable that about 100 years ago the drainage 
was little better than the natural outlet of 
the streets and lanes of the town, so that 
these latter served the double purpose of 
roads and watercourses. The lines of drain- 
age contemplated will be nearly 100 miles. 
The length of the public highways in the bo- 
rough is about 50 miles. Most of these will 
require a main sewer, as will very many 
private streets. We may safely say, there- 
fore, that 100 miles of sewers must be con- 
structed within a few years to meet the 
urgent wants of the population. Supposing 
the cost to be £1,500 per mile, the entire 
outlay will be £150,000. This, of course, 
will have to spread over a considerable period 
of time. The total area of the district over 
which the sewers extend is 2,726 acres ; the 
area covered with buildings, streets, roads, 
Sec, is 1,500 acres, which allows 56 



square yards to each inhabitant, or is at the 
rate of 86.7 per acre, taking the population 
at 130,000. The calculation here made has 
been for a fall of water equal to one-sixth of 
an inch in depth on the whole surface of land 
in the borough, in one hour. This gives the 
following quantities: — The area to be drained 
is 2,726 acres in extent. One sixth of an 
inch of water in depth on that area would 
amount to 1,649,230 cubic feet per hour, or 
27,487 cubic feet, or 171,298 gallons, per 
minute. The catchment basin or drainage 
area of the Bradford Beck is nearly 11,000 
acres in extent, and the discharging power of 
the covered portion of the Beck through the 
town to the Canal Road is 70,560 cubic feet, 
or 439.730 gallons per minute; equal to 
4,233.600 cubic feet of water per hour. This 
quantity is equal to a depth of one-tenth of 
an inch per hour on the whole area of the 
water-shed or catchment basin, and shows 
that before the Beck could be overcharged a 
quantity of water equal to more than one- 
tenth of an inch in depth on the whole area 
of the whole water-shed must run into it. I 
am indebted to Mr. Gott, the borough sur- 
veyor, and his assistant, Mr. Montgomery, for 
these important facts. 

Gas Lighting. 

To this I should also add, the lighting of 
the streets with gas. Many here are old 
enough to remember the miserable old oil 
lamps of former days, which emitted just 
sufficient light to make the darkness visible. 
In the year 1822 a company was formed en- 
titled '' The Bradford Gas Light Company," 
empowered to raise in shares of £25 each, a 
capital of £45,000. The authorised capital of 
that company is now .£'105,000. The length 
of their pipes is about 75 miles; the number 
of lamps, showing the increase, is the fol- 
lowing:— In 1828, 168 lamps; 1838, 262; 
1848, 459; 1858, 1599; 1859, 1644. The 
increase in the consumption of gas, from 1828 
to 1838, was 153 percent; 1838 to 1848, 
196 per cent. •, 1848 to 1858, 377 per cent. 

Postal Communication. 

There is just one more particular to which 
I must call your attention as illustrative of 
my subject, and that is the increase of postal 
communication. I have not been able to go 
back farther than the year 1845, but that is 
sufficient to prove my case. In the year 1845, 
the letters which were delivered out, in one 
week, at the Bradford Post Office, for deli- 
very in the district, amounted to 14,667; in 
the corresponding week of 1850 to 22,755; 

125 



NOTES. 



in 1855 to 43,9/9 ; and in one week in 1859, 
to 66,098. But this dees not give the real 
increase unless it is compared with the fact 
that in the year 1849 the area of delivery in 
the Bradford Post Oflice was greatly dimi- 
nished. The letters which in 1845 passed 
through the Bradford Post Office for Ha- 
worth, Keighley, Bingley, Shipley, Eccles- 
hill, Idle, and surrounding villages, ceased to 
do so in 1849 Had this not been the case, 
the increase from 1845 to 1859 instead of 4| 
would probably have been 9 or 10. 

If the question were mooted, What have 
been the causes which have led to so remark- 
able an increase both in the population and 
trade of this town, I might answer, They are 
probably various; and amongst them the ad- 
vantages of good water, the proximity of the 
stone, coal, and iron districts, and so forth. 
But to all these must be added that enlight- 
ened and no less daring spirit of enterprise 
which has been manifested of late years by 
individuals whom it would be invidious to 
others to select and name. No one can be 
at all acquainted with this town without at 
once calling to mind those to whom reference 
is here specially made, gentlemen whose 
names will pass down the stream of time as 
household words, in connection with all that 
was great in the foundation of our trade, and 
no less good in respect of the promotion of 
the social and moral well-being of the popu- 
lation they had been the means of accumula- 
ting. I must not omit to mention that the 
introduction of the combing machine and 
power-loom tended very greatly to the in- 
crease and prosperity of Bradford, and that 
eo far from attributing that increase and 
prosperity to any single cause or any single 
individual, we should rather attribute it to 
that remarkable combination of circum- 
stances which unitedly brought about that 
rare state of things which it has been the ob- 
ject of the writer, in this paper, he fears so 
imperfectly, to set forth. To any one at 
all conversant with Bradford forty years ago, 
the most striking changes have taken place 
in its general appearance and inhabitants. 
As to its appearance, houses and streets oc- 
cupy the sites of verdant fields and fruitful 
gardens and purling trout streams; and as to 
its population, the natives form but a very 
fractional part of the whole community. If 
I should be deemed presumptuous for having 
dared to prepare a paper upon the subject 
just brought before you, my defence must be 
twofold:— First, that I undertook it at the 
urgent request of several of my fellow-towns- 
men, whose position alike in society and in 
connection with this Association left me no 
alternative but to yield and do the beat I 

126 



could. The result of my humble endeavours 
you have had this morning. The other part 
of my apology lies in the fact that it was my 
privilege to be the son of one of the oldest 
manufacturers in the town, of one who by the 
kindness of his fellow-citizens was often called 
'the father of the worsted trade/and of whom 
perhaps you will pardon me when 1 say it, 
that though in the providence of God he was 
not permitted to pass out of life leaving an 
inheritance of wealth to his children, yet 
that he left them the legacy of his good 
name and of his honest and upright, though 
not successful, intentions,— a name which 
they trust they may never be permitted to 
dishonour, and intentions which they would 
fain strive to fulfil. 

NOTES. 

(1) 
Danish and Saxon Occupation. 

On page 13 of these Collectanea, I stated 
that the termination by, indicative of Danish 
occupation, occurs in only about seventeen 
places in Yorkshire. I did this on the au- 
thority of Professor Phillips, who stated thus 
in his admirable work " On the Mountains, 
B-ivers, and Sea-coa9t of Yorkshire." Since 
then I have received a letter from my friend 
Mr. William Grainge, of Harrogate, from 
which I make the following extract. — 

"Sometime ago I made a list of places in 
this county, ending in by and tkorpe, as indi- 
cative of the Danish element in the popula- 
tion of the county ; also of places ending in 
the three most common Saxon terminations, 
ley^ ton, and ham. The lists are long, but I 
give you the result as follows : — 

No. of Namesof Places in Yorkshire ending 
in by. 

North Riding 151 

East „ 35 

West „ 52 

238 

No. of Names of Places ending in thorpc. 

North Biding 26 

East „ 53 

West „ 68 

147 

No. of Names of Tlaces ending in ton. 

North Riding ., 245 

East „ 129 

West „ 268 

642 



REV. DAVID CLARKSON, B.D. 



No. of Names of Places ending in ley. 

North Riding 24 

East „ 6 

West „ 165 

195 

No. of Names of Places ending in ham. 
North Riding 23 



East 
West 



.__ 31 
.__ 24 



7S 



I do not say that these numbers are quite 
correct ; but, if any thing, they are under 
rather than above the truth." 

(2) 

n Judy Barrett." 

w Old Judy," whose maiden name was 
Barwick, and whose married name was Wil- 
kinson, was born in an old house still exist- 
ing and occupied by one of her daughters, in 
Westgate, opposite the south end of John 
Street." " Old Judy " died on the 20th day 
of March, 1860. In her young days she 
knew everybody who lived in Bradford, and 
was for a great number of years the only 
green grocer in the town. Her early life 
must have been one of great hardship, for an 
old gentleman resident at Low Moor named 
Hanson, once told me, that he had often seen 
her come to a coal-pit near his house, with a 
donkey and cart, which she loaded with 
coals ; besides carrying a sackful on her own 
back all the way to Bradford. On these 
journeys she always wore a man's hat and 
coat, to protect herself from wet and cold. 
Just fancy one of our young women of the 
present day doing this, and yet there was no- 
thing wrong about it, but the rather something 
honourable. So times and customs change. 



MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
Rev. David Clarkson, B.D. 

The Rev. Richard Baxter has said, that 
the Rev. David Clarkson " was a divine of 
extraordinary worth for solid judgment, 
healing, moderate principles, acquaintance 
with the Fathers, great ministerial abilities, 
and a godly upright life." (Reliquiae Bax- 
terianae, part 3, p. 97.) 

For a man of such eminence it is surprising 
that so little is known of him. The facts a:e 
indeed so few that they might almost be re- 



cited in his epitaph. He was the son of 
Robert Clarkson, of Fairgap, or the small 
street which begins at the east side of the 
Pack Horse Inn, in Westgate, Bradford ; and 
was born in the month of February, 1622, 
and baptised on the 3rd of March of the 
same year. His father was a respectable 
yeoman, and possessed of that moral worth 
and social influence which caused him to be 
ranked among its leading inhabitants. There 
is decisive evidence of this in the fact that 
the Corporation of London conveyed, in 
1629, the Manor of Bradford, to John 
Okell, vicar of Bradford, William Lister, of 
Manningham, gentleman, Robert Clarkson, 
and Joshua Cooke, of Bradford, yeomen. 
The names of three of his children are 
known, namely — William who died rector of 
Addle, or Adel, in 1660 ; Mary, who was 
married to Mr. John Sharp, of Little Hor- 
ton, and who became the mother of Abraham 
and Thomas Sharp (see the Sharp pedigree) j 
and David the subject of this notice. No- 
thing is known of his early training ; but as 
he went to the University when quite young, 
it is not unlikely that he received his gram- 
mar learning at the Grammar School in 
Bradford, which was so famous in his time. 

In 1640, he entered Clare Hall, Cam- 
bridge, where he distinguished himself as a 
scholar and a Christian, and secured the 
friendship and confidence of his associates in 
College. In 1642 the town of Bradford was 
occupied for the Parliament by Sir Thomas 
Fairfax and his soldiers, and suffered an as- 
sault from the Royalist forces, commanded 
by Sir Wm. Saville, who were compelled to 
retreat to Leeds. After this alarm, young 
Clarkson probably returned home to visit his 
family, for we find that he was shut up in his 
native town, when the Earl of Newcastle in- 
vested it a second time in the month of June 
following, and took it by storm. That cu- 
rious piece of contemporaneous biography,* 
written by Joseph Lister, an apprentice to 
Mr. John Sharp, of Little Horton, the bro- 
ther-in-law of David Clarkson, describes the 
straightness of the siege, and ' the desperate 
adventure " of Sir Thomas Fairfax and his 
men to break through the enemj''s army 
sword in hand. In this attempt they were 
joined by Mr. Sharp, and Mr. David Clark- 
son, with what success Mr. Lister recites in 
the following passage — 

" My master being gone) I sought for my 
mother, and having found ber, she and I, and 



* The Autobiography of Joseph Lister, of 
Bradford: born 1627, died 1709, 

127 



REV. DAVID CLARKSON, B.D. 



my sister, walked in the street, not knowing 
what to do, or which way to take. And as 
we walked up the street, we met a young 
gentleman (called David Clarkson) leading 
a horse. My mother asked him where he 
had been with that horse. Says he, **I 
made an essay to go with my brother Sharp, 
and the army, who broke through the 
enemy's leaguer; but the charge was so hot 
T came back again, and now I know not 
what to do." Then I answered and said, 
"pray mother, give me leave to go with 
David, for I think I can lead him a safe 
way ;" for being born in that town, I knew 
all the bye-ways about it. 

David also desired her to let me go with 
him, so she begged a blessing on me, and 
sent me away, not knowing where we could 
be safe. So away we went, and I led him 
to a place called the Sill-bridge, where a foot 
company was standing ; yet I think they did 
not see us, so we ran on the right hand of 
them, and then waded over the water, and 
hearing a party of horse come down the lane, 
towards the town, we laid us down in the side 
of the corn, and they perceived us not. It 
being about day-break, we staid here as long 
as we durst for being discovered, it beginning 
to be light. Well, we got up, and went in 
the shade of the hedge, and then looking 
about us, and hoping to be past the danger 
of the leaguer, we took to the highway, in- 
tending to go to a little town called Clayton ; 
and having waded over the water, we met 
with two men that were troopers, and who 
had left their horses in the town, and hoped 
to get away on foot, and now they and we 
walked together, and hoped we had escaped 
all danger, and all on a sudden a man on 
horseback from towards the beacon had es- 
pied us and came riding towards us, and we, 
like poor affrighted sheep, seeing him come 
fast towards us, with a drawn sword in his 
hand, we foolishly kept together, and thought 
to save ourselves by running. Had we 
scattered from one another, he bad but got 
one of us. We all got into a field ; he crossed 
the field and came to us, and as it pleased 
God, being running by the hedge side, I es- 
pied a thick holly tree, and thought perhaps 
I might hide myself in this tree, and escape, 
so I crept into it, and pulled the boughs 
about me, and presently I heard them cry 
out for quarter. He wounded one of them, 
and took them all prisoners, and said, "there 
were four of you, where is the other?" but 
they knew not, for I being the last and least 
of them, was not missed ; so he never looked 
after me more; but I have often thought 
since how easily (ve might have knocked him 



128 



down, had we but bad courage ; but alas ! we 
had none. 

Having passed this day, skulking in the 
hedges, when it was dark I betook myself to 
travelling towards Coin, the place to which I 
thought my good master was gone, and there 
I found him, and glad we were to see each 
other. He enquired of me (because I stayed 
in Bradford longer than he did) what was 
done, and what I knew I told him; and in 
the conclusion he asked me if I knew the 
way, and durst go back again to Bradford 
and see if I could find my dame, and bring 
him word where she was, and how she did, 
and what was, done in the town; "yes 
master," said I, " if you please to send me, 
I am ready and willing to go," So in the 
morning he sent me away, and to Bradford I 
came, and found some few people left, but 
most of them scattered and fled away." 

Joseph Lister gives no further information 
respecting young Clarkson, but it is most 
probable that he was taken to Leeds and ex- 
changed for some Royalist prisoner, as he 
returned to Cambridge, and there, in another 
scene of that great struggle, was exalted to 
competency and honour. 

Soon after the civil wars began, the heads 
of that university resolved to send their 
plate to the king to be coined into'money for 
the military chest. This brought Crom- 
well, who was the member for the borough 
in parliament, to the town, and having raised 
a troop of horse in the neighbourhood, he 
employed his authority on this occasion in 
no way to the satisfaction of the royalist 
members of the colleges. The Earl 
of Manchester was appointed by the 
parliament to visit the university, and 
empowered to call before him all the 
provosts, masters, fellows, and students 
to hear complaints against tbem, moral 
and political. On the 24th of February, 
1G43-44, he commenced, and near two 
hundred masters and fellows were expelled. 
Dr. Paske of Clare Hall, and seven fellows 
were ejected, and among these was Mr. Peter 
Gunning, who after the Restoration was 
bishop of Chichester, and afterwards of E'3-. 
It was to this fellowship that Mr. Clarkson 
was appointed in a manner honourable to all. 
He was appointed May 5th 1645, by warrant 
of the Earl of Manchester, and approved by 
the Assembly of Divines then sitting at West- 
minster. The eminent Ralph Cndworth was 
master of Clare. 

There were at this time two brothers, col- 
legians at Clare Hall, Henry ami Francis 
llolcroft, sons of Sir Henry Jlolcroi't, Knight 
of West Ham, on the border of Essex, near 



•EV. DAVID CLARKSON, B.D. 



London, and who also became fellows of it. 
These gentlemen were distinguished by the 
fervour of their piety, and agreed with Mr. 
Clarkson, in their views of church govern- 
ment. There existed between them and him 
'•great endearments," and this friendship at 
a subsequent period was confirmed by his 
marriage with their own sister. (See Cala- 
my's Account, vol 2, p. 386, ed. 1713.) 

Mr. Clarkson was now a tutor to the 
college, and on the 29th of April, 1647, he 
received as his pupil, one whom it was his 
honour and happiness to retain as his friend 
to the end of life — the celebrated John 
Tillotson, of Sowerby Bridge, who was after- 
wards Archbishop of Canterbury. This able 
young scholar succeeded Mr. Clarkson when 
he resigned his fellowship about November 
1651 ; and to his tuition he also consigned 
the scholars then under his care, amongst 
whom was his beloved nephew, Mr. Thomas 
Sharp, of Little Horton. (See Birch's Life 
of Tillotson, p. 381.) 

The occasion of his withdrawal from 
college life would appear to be his marriage 
with Elizabeth, a daughter of Sir Henry 
Holcroft, and the sister of his beloved friends 
before mentioned. She appears to have been 
a lady of eminent intelligence and piety, 
fitting to be a companion of his leisure, and 
the mother of his children, of whom there 
were five; viz. — 1st Rebecca, who married a 
Mr. Combe, and died in London, November 
20th, 1744, aged 79 years. In the Rev. 
Samuel James's " Collection of Remarkable 
Experiences " there are two papers given in 
by Mrs. Combe, and another sister, Gertrude, 
hereinafter mentioned, — of their religious 
convictions upon uniting themselves with the 
Independent church assembling at the Three 
Cranes Meeting-house, Fruiterers-alley, Up- 
per Thames- street, London. These docu- 
ments were remarkably well written, and 
show that their father had provided for them 
an excellent education.* 2nd Matthew, who 
went to America about 16S9, and died there 
in 1702. He was secretary to Governor 
Slaughter, of New York, and left considerable 
property. There are now in America de- 
scendants of this son Matthew ; one, an 
eminent merchant in New York. 3rd Ro- 
bert, who was young at the death of Ins 
father, but as he inherited (very likely) the 
property of his father, some of his descend- 
ants may yet be living in Idle, or Bradford. f 

* Rebecca was buried in Bunhill Fields 
Cemetery, London. 

f Mr. James in a note says, that this 
Robert inherited the property; probably 
devised to him by his mother. 

Holroyd's Collectanea, No. 9. 



(See copy of Will at the end of this notice.) 
4th and 5th, Gertrude and Catherine, who 
were pious women, and are mentioned in 
Gibbons " Memoirs of Pious Women." Ger- 
trude died in London, April 23rd, 1701. 
Catherine or Katherine, died at Hitchin, 
Herts, Jan. 11, 1757, aged 84 years. They 
never married. 

But to return to Mr. Clarkson. Whether 
he possessed any preferment at the time of 
his marriage, in the church, is not known, 
but at a subsequent period he held the living 
of Mortlake, in the county of Surrey, and 
from which he was removed by the Act of 
Uniformity. The parishioners of Mortlake, 
judging from the entries made in the parish 
accounts, warmly sympathised with the 
measures of the Puritan party, as the Co- 
venant was duly taken, and a copy purchased 
and framed for the vestry, and the Common 
Prayer-books of the parish were delivered 
up to the committee of the county sitting at 
Southwark, to receive them by order of 
Parliament. At a later period this agreeable 
village was the chosen residence of Sir John 
Ireton, and Alderman Pack and Tiehbourn, 
who were amongst Cromwell's chief city 
friends, and vveie probably attendants on Mr. 
Clarkson's ministry whilst there. (See Ly- 
son's Environs of London, 1 p. 3/0, 375, 
376) 

About this time a series of services were 
inaugurated in the city of London, called 
" Morning Exercises," on behalf of those 
who were engaged in the civil wars, and ex- 
posed to all the miseries attendant thereon. 
At these '• Exercises," which were held in 
St. Giles's Church, Cripplegate, 1661, of 
which Dr. Annesley was the minister, we find 
David Clarkson, the tutor, discussing u What 
Christians must do, that influences of the 
Ordinances may abide upon them ;" and Dr. 
John Tillotson, the pupil, illustrating 
"Wherein lies that exact righteousness which 
is required between man and man;" the for- 
mer of these soon to be cast into obscurity, 
as a despised nonconformist, and the latter 
to be elevated to the Archbishopric of Can- 
terbury. 

Mr. Clarkson was now in the full maturity 
of his powers, but the Restoration was fol- 
lowed by the Act of Uniformity, which came 
into operation oa Baithulomew's clay, August 
24th, 1662, and removed him with about two 
thousand of his brethren, from the national 
pulpits. After his ejectment he gave him- 
self up to reading and meditation, shifting 
from one place to another, wherever quiec 
and obscurity might be found, till the times 
suffered him to appear openly. This com- 
prised a period of ten years, or until the 

129 



REV. DAVID CLARKSON, B.D. 



•" Declaration of Indulgence'' of March 15th, 
1671-2. He probably remained in London, 
or its environs, for he took a part in the re- 
ligious controversies of the times, and in 
fortifying the public mind against the dan- 
gers which threatened the nation of a re- 
lapse into Popery. To effect this purpose 
also, there was established in London a fourth 
series of " Morning Exercises." In these 
services Mr. Clarkson undertook to show, 
that, " the Doctrine of Justification is dan- 
gerously corrupted in the Roman church." 
A discourse full of learning and talent, and 
sound argument.* 

In the year 1676, Mr. Clarkson published 
a learned treatise in a small quarto volume. 
In order that the reader may form some 
idea what sort of a work this was, the heads 
of the chapters are here given, and it will 
be seen that they present a serious indict- 
ment, it is entitled "The Practical Divinity 
of the Papists discovered to be Destructive 
of Christianity and Men's Souls." Chapter 
1. By the Doctrine of the Romanists it is 
not needful to worship God really in public 
or private. 2. Christian knowledge is not 
necessary for Romanists by their doctrine. 
3. Their doctrine makes it needless to love 
God. 4. There is no necessity of saving or 
justifying faith by the Romish doctrine. 5. 
There is no necessity of true repentance for 
Romanists by their doctrine. 6. Their doc- 
trine leaves no necessity of holiness of life, 
and the exercise of Christian virtues. 7. 
Many henious crimes are virtues or neces- 
sary duties by the Romish doctrine. 8. 
Cri mes exceeding great and many are but 
sligbt and venial faults by the Popish doc- 
trine. 9. Mauy enormous crimes are no sins 
at all in the Roman account; and, 10. The 
Roman doctrine makes good works to be 
unnecessary. 

But the Protestant Church of England 
of the time did not come off scot-free, for he 
published in 1681, a work whose title fully 
explains itself. — "No Evidence for Diocesan 
Churches, or any Bishops without the choice 
or consent of the People in the " Primitive 
Times " A small quarto volume of 76 pages. 
Loudon : Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at 
the Bible and Three Crowns. And rarely 
to be met with. Again in 1682 he printed 
another book. — "Diocesan Churches not yet 
Discovered in the Primitive Times." Lon- 



* Published in NichoPs edition of the 
" Morning Exercises," in which the date of 
irs delivery is stated to have been in 1675. 
Has also been published by the Wycliffe 
Society, in 1846. 

130 



don : Thomas Parkhurst. He also wrote 
and left in MSS., " Primitive Episcopacy,"- 
and "The Use of Liturgies.'' Which were 
published after his death. 

Twenty years had now passed since the 
Act of Uniformity ejected him from his pas- 
toral charge, and that long period was mainly 
spent in private, partly the result of perse- 
cuting laws and partly the consequence of 
his constitutional modesty. He then became 
co- pastor of the church where the noted Dr. 
John Owen officiated, and which was one of 
high character for the intelligence, wealth, 
and station of many of its members. His 
election took place in July, 1682, Dr. Owen 
having in a letter to Lord Charles Fleetwood, 
intimated that he should "esteem it a great 
mercy to ha ve so able a supply as Mr. Clark- 
son. (See Orme's Life of Owen, p. 517.) 
But the Dr. only survived until the 24th of 
August 1683. Mr. Clarkson preached his 
funeral sermon on the Lord's-day after his 
interment, and three short years brought the 
life and labours of the surviving pastor to a 
close. His death was unexpected, so that 
his will was only executed the day before he 
died. Two of the witnesses, Henry Sampson, 
and Edward Hulse, had been ejected by the 
Act of Uniformity, and afterwards became 
eminent physicians in London. A copy of 
this Will lies in Doctors' Commons, London; 
it is singularly brief and hurried : — 

" June the 13th, 1686. 
I David Clarkson Clerke Doe make this 
my last Will. The Land that is at Idele 
or Eshall wherein I was joynt purchasor 
with ray Father was settled upon my well- 
beloved Wife before marryage as parte of a 
joynture and it is my will it shall soe continue ; 
and after her decease it shall be sold and 
equally divided among the children unlesse 
any of them shall prove debauch ; if soe my 
Wife shall dispose of their parte as shee 
pleases. I give unto my Wife all my Goods, 
Plate, and Jewells, and make her sole exe- 
cutrix of this my Will. Tlie money that is 
oweing unto me my Will is that it be equally 
divided among the Children unlesse there 
Mother for their debauchery shall think fit t 
to abate them: in that case shee shall give 
unto them as shee pleases. If Robert will 
prove a Scholar I give unto him all my 
13oukes excepting what English Bookes his 
Mother thinks fitt to take to her selfe. And 
if any controversy shall arrise aboute any 
part of this my Will I leave it to be dissided 
by my Wife. 

D. CLARKSON. 

Sealed, published, and delivered in the pre- 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



sence of Henry Sampson, Edward Hulse, 
Joshua Palmer, Robert Davis. Pwbatum 
fuit, etc." 

Dr. William Bates preached his funeral 
sermon, on John 14,ii., to which is attached, 
"A Short Character of that Eminent Divine 
Mr. David Clarkson, who departed this life 
14th of June, 1686." Elizabeth, his vene- 
rable relict survived him about fifteen years. 

Amongst his manuscripts was the treatise 
"Primitive Episcopacy stated and cleared 
from the Holy Scriptures and Ancient Re- 
cords." printed in 1688, no preface except 
that from the "Stationer," Nath. Ponder. 
Since published with others of his writings 
by the Wycliffe Society, in 1846. In 1696, 
thirty-one of his sermons and discourses 
were published in a large folio volume of 
more than a thousand pages. The titles 
alone are evidence of a snperior mind. The 
Eev. John Howe, eays of him, that — "He 
lived here as one who was more akin to that 
other world than this; and who had no other 
business here but to help in making it 
better."* 

In the year 1864, a beautiful edition, in 
three volumes, of the "Practical Works of 
David Clarkson," was published in Edin- 
burgh, by Mr. James Nichol. It forms a 
part of his series of Standard Divines, Pu- 
ritan Period, under the editorship of the 
Eev. Thomas Smith, M.A. ; W. Lindsay 
Alexander, D.D., and five other ministers of 
Edinburgh. In a prefatory note there is an 
estimate of the value of the writings of 
David Clarkson, and embodying as it does 
the opinion of a modern theo^gian, or may 
be theologians, I will give it here : — 



* This notice of a worthy Bradfordian has 
been compiled and abridged from a work very 
kindiy lent to me by the Eev. James Eo- 
bertson Campbell, D.D., of Bradford; enti- 
tled — '• Select Works of the Eeverend and 
learned David Clarkson, B.D., and sometime 
Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. Edited 
for The Wyclijfe Society, by the Eev. Basil 
H. Cooper, B.A., of the University of Lon- 
don. With Historical Notices of the Life 
of the Author, by the Eev. John Blackburn, 
Claremont Chapel, London, 1846." Also 
from Birch's Life of Tillotson; Calamy's 
Account ; James's History of Bradford, and 
other sources. A very fine print of Clark- 
son, by White, from a portrait by Mrs. Mary 
Beale, gives a very pleasing idea of him. A 
copy of this print is in the posses&ion of my 
friend, Edward Hailstone, Esq., of Horton 
Hall. 



" It is unquestionable that, in respect of the 
qualities of a theological writer, Clarkson < c- 
cupied a very high place amongst the divines 
of the Puritan period. His vigorous and 
clear mind, his extensive and varied learn- 
ing, his fervent piety and zeal for the glory 
of God and the good of men, enabled him to 
produce writings remarkable for soundness 
of reasoning and fervency of appeal, and 
adorned with the graces of a tasteful elo- 
quence." " Clarkson 's 

Sermons as a whole are exceedingly valuable. 
They appear to us, in respect of style of 
thought and language, to be in advance of 
manj T of the writings of the period. They 
contain no plays upon words, no grotesque 
similies, no verbal or logical conceits ; but 
an earnest, strong vindication of great gospel 
truths, and most affectionate and fervent 
appeals to sinners to embrace the offered 
salvation." These three volumes contain 
thirty-four sermons, and the treatise on 
"The Practical Divinity of the Papists 
Discovered to be destructive of Christianity 
and Men's Souls." In this edition almost 
the whole of the Latin quotations, many 
hundreds in number, have been verified, and 
may be depended upon as abso! lately accurate." 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, 
BEADFOED. 

It has often been observed by antiquaries, 
that the obscure origin of a great part of 
our parishes is one of the opprcbria of 
English topography. The exact time when 
the parish of Bradford was formed and a 
church erected here, cannot be ascertained. 
The necessity and circumstances which 
occasioned and resulted from the sub-division 
of the extensive Saxon parishes, are clearly 
set forth by Burton, in the preface to his 
Monasticon Eboracense ; in which, ^ after 
observing that such parishes being of very 
great extent, it was found necessary to erect 
chapels of ease, or oratories, as they were 
then called, proceeds— "These were _ used 
only for common prayers or the ordinary 
divine service, the mother church enjoying 
as well the sole right of baptism, marriage, 
and burial, as all the tithes and possessions 
with which she was originally endowed, 
without any defalcation thereof for the 
supply of such oratories. But the same 
reasons which rendered the institution of 
parishes necessary, held in a certaiu degree 
for allowing all the offices of religion to be 
performed in such chapels, and thereby 
making them parochial. The distance from, 
and the danger of going to the mother 

131 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



church, were also reasons for making several 
of these chapels parochial. But though 
cbapels and churches were thus made paro- 
chial, yet some of them paid an acknowledge- 
ment in token of subjection to the Mother 
Church. The bishops, too, finding it proper 
to encourage the building and endowing of 
more churches, were obliged at last to put 
the latter churches on an equal footing with 
the first, and to assign them all the tithes 
within the precincts; consecrating church- 
yards, and granting the right of burial and 
christenings to make them distinct parishes, 
independent of the mother church. 1 " 

These observations of a very learned writer 
on the subject, apply strictly to the manner 
in which the church of Bradford became 
parochial. The earlier Lacies were a devout 
church-building race, and would either build 
a church here at their own .expense, or con- 
tribute, along with the inhabitants, to the 
erection. In either case they would, as lords 
of the manor, become the patrons. The 
church was endowed by them with ninety- 
six acres of laud. 

The church of Bradford pays to that of 
Dewsbury eight shillings yearly. 

Huddersfield church pays four shillings 
yearly to that of Dewsbury, and Hudders- 
field was then waste. Kirkheaton pays 
tvventy- three shillings and fourpence, and 
Almondbury forty-six shillings and eight- 
pence, lludderfield church was, in 1292, 
valued at <£9 6s. 8d., and the vicarage 
^6 13s. 4d.; Kirkheaton at .£20, and Al- 
mondbury at .£40 — yearly. I think from 
these facts it is very probable, that the pay- 
ment from Bradford was fi.st accepted as a 
composition long before the year 1200. 
Probably about 1150. 

From the researches of the late Rev. 
Joseph Hunter, in the " Collectanea Topo- 
graphica," it appears plain that those pay- 
ments were made in lieu of tithes aud 
offerings arising from certain portions only 
of such parishes. The raauuer in which the 
payment of tithe from Bradford to Dews- 
bury church arose, seems to have been thus : 
— The lands granted to the Lacies by the 
Conqueror and forming the Honour of Pon- 
tefract, were not royal demesne like Dews- 
bury and Wakefield, afterwards granted to 
the Warrens. At the conquest, Eccleshill 
belonged, as it does now, to the manor of 
Wakefield, and its tithes, either by gift of 
one of the Earls Warren or otherwise, be- 
came vested in Dewsbury church. That 
this was the case is apparent from the ordin- 
ation of the vicarage of Dewsbury in 1349, 
where, after stating that alterage had from 
ancient times been paid to Dewsbury from 

132 



the parish of Bradford and the other places, 
a few paragraphs after, the Rectorial tithes 
are mentioned, and among others ; ' The tithes 
and portions of the garb of Eccleshill." 
Hunter also quotes certain accounts of Ed- 
ward Savage, (Proctor of the church of 
Dewsbury, from 1348 to 1350,) which dis- 
tinctly shew that at that time there was no 
money payment at all issuing from Bradford 
or any other of the six churches ; but that 
Bradford received tithe from certain town- 
ships which form portions of those parishes. 
In Savage's account, the townships are set 
out from which Dewsbury received profits 
during the time he was collector, and not 
from the whole parish in any case. For in- 
stance, the tithe of Eccleshill, in the parish 
of Bradford, is put down at the yearly value 
of £1 9s. 3£d. The customary and stated 
payment of 8s. from Bradford to Dewsbury 
evidently represents some commutation, and 
came into existence sometime between the 
years 1349 and 1530. as it is entered in the 
Valor of King Henry VI II. 

Hence it is evident that any dependence 
of Bradford on that of Dewsbury, implied 
by this money payment, only arose in respect 
of Eccleshill as belonging to the fee of the 
Warrens. There are no substantial grounds 
for supposing that Hrad.brd parish ever be- 
longed to that of Dewsbury. After giving 
the subject most careful consideration, it 
seems very probable that in the time of the 
Saxons, a church, on the present site, existed 
at Bradford, having rights of baptism, mar- 
riage, and burial, and forming the nucleus of 
a parish. This opinion is supported by 
Doomsday Survey, where it is recorded that 
Bradford, in the days of the Confessor formed 
an important manor of considerable value ; 
and would not, it may be presumed, be with- 
out the usual appanage of a church. In 
explanation of the fact that in that Survey, 
neither church nor priest is mentioned as 
existing here, — the former may have beeu 
destroyed in the devastations of the Con- 
queror; and where all was waste, what need 
of a priest. The non-mention of a church 
here in that Survey, is no proof that such 
did not exist. 

When the Lacies obtained the manor, 
their first object, according to the feelings of 
the age, would be to built here a church, or 
renovate the old one; but most lihely the 
unsettled state of their possessions would re- 
tard the execution of that intention until the 
reign of Henry II. The building of this 
Anglo-Norman church, if the date could be 
conectly ascertained, would be that of the 
growth again of a considerable population. 

From the time of the foundation of the 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



church, the Lacies, and those claiming under 
them, presented to the rectory, until the 
grant of the same by Henry V. to the col- 
lege of Leicester. These rectors, sometime 
before the year 1292, obtained permission to 
appoint vicars. Dr. Whitaker observes: — 
" It must have been originally an opulent 
benefice, as there was an endowed vicarage 
for many years, while the rectory continued 
presentative, a circumstance which never 
took place, but where wealth had rendered 
the incumbent idle. During this period the 
vicarage was in the rector's patronage." 

That the benefice was a rich one is ap- 
parent, on comparing the value of the rectory 
and vicarage, according to Pope Nicholas' 
Val&r (1292), with that of other neighbour- 
ing churches. — 

The taxation of the church of Leeds was 
£80, vicarage £13 6s. 8d.; church of Hali- 
fax £93 6s. 8d., vicarage £16; church of 
Wakefield £33 6s. 8d. And to these may 
be added the rectory of Bingley, £30 a 
year; Keighley£8; Calverley, £8; Skip- 
ton, £30, and the vicarage there £8. 

In 1288, Pope Nicholas the 4th, gave to 
Edward the 1st, the tenths of all the eccle- 
siastical benefices in England, towards de- 
fraying the expenses of an expedition to the 
Holy Land ; and that the tenths might be 
collected at their full value, a taxation was 
made of those benefices, which was finished 
in 1292. This is commonly called Pope 
Nicholas' Taxation, and exhibits a very cor- 
rect view of the value of English church 
livings at the time. The following is the 
entry in it respecting Bradford — 

£ s. d. 
Church of Bradford _. 53 6 8 
Vicarage there __ __ 13 6 8 

This shews, that in 1292, the living had 
become of considerable value. 

On account of the incursions of the Scots, 
after the battle of Bannockburn, a great 
number of the ecclesiastical benefices in the 
north of England, had so depreciated in 
value, that another taxation of them was 
made in 1318, called "Nova Taxatio," in 
which the value of Bradford church is shewn 
to be only £ 

Church _. __ __ __ __ 28 

Vicarage __ __ __ 5 

A strong instance of the sufferings inflicted 
on the inhabitants of Bradford by these in- 
cursions. 

It will be observed that although 
the close catalogue of the vicars of Brad- 
ford only commence in 1293, there were 



vicars at least some time previous, but the 
inference may be diawn that the vicarage 
had not long existed. Several of the vicars 
are, in the early part of Edward III.'s reign, 
put down only as chaplains, and in the 
Nona? Rolls, 14th year of that reign (1341), 
Bradford is not included; "poor Boraile 
people" being excepted. It is evident that 
the town had not even recovered from the 
shock in the time of Richard II., as may be 
gathered from the Poll Tax Rolls of that 
reign. 

The first mention of Bradford church 
which I have seen, is in the register of Arch- 
bishop Wickwayne, in the year 1281, (No. 
128, folio 9, of his register,) where there is 
an entry of the institution of Robert Ton- 
nington to the rectory, on the presentation 
of Alice de Lacy, widow of Edmund de 
Lacy. This entry is sixty- four years after 
the commencement of the Archi episcopal 
Registers of York ; and those of two out of 
the three intermediate archbishops are lost. 

From the first foundation of the church, to 
the year 1293, the clerical duties were per- 
formed by the rector; but the living having 
become a lucrative one, and worthy of the 
ambition of rich and lazy dignitaries, in that 
year the rector, with the assent of the above- 
named Alice de Lacy, first presented a vicar 
to the church. 

["Robert, rector of the church of Brad- 
ford, by the assent of Alice de Lacy, pa- 
troness of the same, presents to the vicarage, 
eighth year of Archbishop Romaine, folio 26 
of his register." Jenning's MSS., Harleian 
Collection, No. 797-"] From this time there 
has been a regular succession of vicars. 

The first three vicars were presented with 
the assent of the patron ; but in the reign of 
Edward the 3rd, the rectors, either through 
the negligence of the patrons, or with their 
consent, began to perform this duty alone, 
and continued to do so up to the time of the 
grant to the college of Leicester. 

The manor and advowson of the rectory, 
descended together in the Lacy family till 
the death of the Earl of Lincoln, when the 
former became the dowry of his widow; and 
the advowson descended to Thomas, Earl of 
Lancaster, in right of his wife, Alice, daugh- 
ter of the Earl of Lincoln. On the confis- 
cation of the estates of Lancaster, Edward 
the 2nd, as before mentioned, seized the 
advowson. The record, dated at Felton, 8th 
August, 1322, by which it became the pro- 
perty of the Crown, is given in Rymer's 
Foedera ; but as it contains no fact worthy of 
notice, except that the advowton had come 
to the King's hands by reason of Lancaster's 
treason, I refrain giving a copy of it. The 

133 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



manor also having been wrenched from the 
Earl of Lincoln's widow by the King, the 
advowson and manor again became conjoined. 
In the inquisition taken on the death of 
Henry, Earl of Lancaster, in 1361, the ad- 
vowson, by which undoubtedly is meant the 
church living, is stated to be worth .£100 
yearly. The manor and advowson continued 
in the same hands till the grant of the former 
by John of Gaunt to his son, the Marquis of 
Dorset, when the latter was reserved. 

On the seizure by Richard the 2nd of the 
possessions of his deceased uncle, John of 
Gaunt, the manor and advowson were again 
coupled, and so continued till the reign of 
Henry the 5th, who, by a grant dated at 
Corron, 7th November, 1416, [Patent Henry 
5tb, ao. 3, p. 2, m, 19, in the Tower of Lon- 
don. Brook's MSS., citing Hutton's Col- 
lecions.] gave the church of Bradford to the 
college of the Blessed Mary, commonly 
called the Newark, at Leicester. This col- 
lege had been founded and liberally endowed 
by his ancestors. In the same year as this 
grant, the church was appropriated to the 
college by Henry Bowet, archbishop of 
York. I "have seen the ordination of the 
vicarage in Bowet's register ; and as the pur- 
port, and indeed the only part which is not 
mere formal verbiage, is given in the follow- 
ing extract from Torre's MSS., I did not 
think it necessary to cover the heavy expense 
of a copy, " In the appropriation there is 
reserved out of the fruits of the church a 
competent portion for the perpetual vicar, 
who then was, and for his successors serving 
therein, who shall be henceforth presentable 
by the dean and canons of the college of 
Leicester; and have for his maintenance the 
same allowance with the present vicar and 
his predecessors used to receive." [Torre's 
MSS., in the custody of the Dean and 
Chapter of York] The wording of the 
original is in these general terms. The arch- 
bishop also reserved to himself and his suc- 
cessors, out of the fruits of the church, a 
pension of 20s per annum ; to the dean and 
chapter of York 6s, Sd. yearly; and in ac- 
cordance with the ancient right of the poor 
to a share of the tithes for their support, 
ordained that the college should pay to the 
poor of Bradford 20s. yearly, to be distribu- 
ted among them. 

From the vague terms in which this ordi- 
nation of the vicarage of Bradford is couched, 
it cannot be correctly ascertained in what 
the ancient endowment of the vicarage con- 
sisted. It may, however, be fairly inferred, 
that the vicarial tithes were in and long 
previous to 1416, the same as they are now. 
In 1292, the value of Bradford vicarage was 

134 



equal to that of Leeds, and nearly to that of 
Halifax ; and in the endowment of Leeds 
vicarage in 1242, and of Halifax in 1273, 
were certainly included the whole of the 
small tithes belonging to the vicar of Brad- 
ford. It is very probable that the ancient 
endowments of the whole of these vicarages 
were not much dissimilar. 

To the time of the grant to the college of 
Leicester, the rectors were in regular succes- 
sion presented by the Lacies and their succes- 
sors patrons of the church. The following 
is a list, as correct as I am able to make it 
out, of these rectors : — 

Robert Tonnington, presented, as before 
stated, in 1281. The surname of the rector 
who in 1293 presented the first vicar is not 
given; I cannot therefore say whether it was 
Robert Tonnington or a successor. Burton, 
in the Mon. Ebor. mentions that "John son 
of Reginald clerk of Bradford gave land in 
Bowling to Kirkstall Abbey ; but I know not 
at what date he lived, nor have seen any 
other notice of him. 

Robert de Baldock the younger, presented 
by Edward the 2nd, in 1323. He was pro- 
fessor of the civil law. [Sixth year of Bishop 
Melton, foiio 15/ of his register, Jenning's 
MSS.] 

Robert de Walkington was the next after 
Robert de Baldock, the younger, rector of 
the church of Bradford, and immediately 
after him William de Mirfield was rector 
of the same church. [Jenning's MSS.] 

William de Mirfield. — No doubt he was 
of the ancient and affluent family of the 
Mirfields of Tong. This rector had large 
possessions in the neighbourhood. He ap- 
pears to have been a liberal man. In 1374 
he obtained a license from the King to grant 
to William Cotes, then vicar of Bradford, 
•and his successors for ever, a house in Brad- 
ford to reside in. [Escheats, 47th Edward 
3rd, No. 11, quoted in Brook's MSS.] 
There is, to me, not the slightest doubt that 
this was the old vicarage-house in Goodman- 
send. He died in 1377. 

In the Escheats, 22nd of Edwaid 3rd, it 
is stated that it would not be for the damage 
of the King if Benedict Normanton enfe- 
offed William de Mirfield, priest, of the 
manors of Fersley and Shelf, held of the 
King, in capite, paying yearly to Normanton 
and his heirs 60s. These manors were held 
50th of Edward 3rd by William de Mirfield 
the day he died, of the King in capite, by 
the service of one penny yearly. — Vide 
Watson's * Halifax,' p. 116. 

In the same year John of Gaunt (King of 
Castile, as he is* styled in the Archiepiscopal 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



Register) presented to the rectory, vacant by 
the death of Mirfield, Wm. de Wynceby. 

[Archbishop Neville's Register, folio 19, 
quoted in Jennings's MSS ] 

Thomas de Durysch was the last parson 
(in the proper sense of the word) of the 
church of Bradford. On the grant of the 
church to the dean and canons of the college 
of Leicester, some agreement seems to have 
been entered into between Durysch and them, 
and on the 2nd of January, 1422, he resigned 
to them the rectory. [Archbishop Huttou's 
Collections, p. 116, quoted in Brook's MSS.] 

Little can be added to these particulars 
respecting the early rectors. Robert Ton- 
nington who was instituted in 1281, is the first 
whose name has descended to us. Between 
him and Baldock, there is so long an interval 
that probably another rector with the name 
of Robert intervened. There appears to 
have been some opposition to the institution 
of Baldock in 1323, because in that year 
Archbishop Melton issued a commission to 
enquire whether he did not hold the rectory 
of Bradford, and a prebend in Ripon church. 
The living of Bradford was sequestered from 
Baldock to the Archbishop, most likely as a 
result of the above-mentioned opposition. 

During the latter part of the period in 
which the church belonged to the college of 
Leicester, the advowson and rectory were 
leased to various persons, who presented in 
two instances the vicar. [" Thomas Ggden, 
vicar of the church of Bradford, by the 
resignation of William Weston, on the pre- 
sentation of William Ranold, by reason of 



In the Ecclesiastical Survey, made by 
order of Henry the 8th, Bradford Rectory is 
returned, under the notice of the possessions 
of the college of Leicester, as being of the 
value of ^£50 a year. In this Survey (com- 
monly called the " King's Book ") the vi- 
carage of Bradford was totally overlooked ; 
and at the end, under the head of " Omissions," 
it was merely stated that its value amounted 
to «a£20 yearly, and the tenths to £% without 
giving, in the usual manner, any details. 

On the dissolution of the college of 
Leicester, the rectory and advowson of the 
vicarage was vested in the crown. In the 
5th Mary, this advowson was, along with 
that of Calverley, granted by her to the 
Archbishop of York. For some reason I 
am unacquainted with, Queen Elizabeth 
presented afterwards to both livings ; but the 
Archbishop of York presented to them in 
the reign of James the first— in consequence, 
I presume, of the above-mentioned grant; 
not by lapse. It seems, however, that the 
Archbishops had not, with the exception of a 
single presentation, "any benefit from the 
grant of the advowson of Bradford vicar- 
age. 

The rectory from time to time, after it 
became vested in the Crown, was leased out 
by the officers of the Duchy of Lancaster. 
In 1607 the rectory was in the possession of Sir 
Richard Tempest; and it appears from the 
following precept directed to him, that the 
impropriator of the rectory had been accus- 
tomed to pay the procurations and synodals, 
which at this time amounted to 7s. 6d. (sub- 
sidies £1 16s ) 



the grant to him by Robert Bone, dean of 
the college." Brook's MSS.] 

Precept. 
" After our hearty commendations. Forasmuch as we have received a resolution by full 
consent of the Doctors of the Civil Law, having argued the case at large among themselves 
at the Doctors' Commons, that the Rectory of Bradford by the appropriation thereof is 
bound to pay all procurations at visitations and synodals and not the Vicar ; and it appeareth 
also that before the suppression of the Collegiate Church of Leicester, the Dean and Canons 
of the same Church did in their leases covenant with the farmers that they should at their 
proper costs and charges find a proctor to appear for them, and to answer in their names at 
all such meetings and congregations of the Clergy within the Archdeaconry of York, how- 
ever in late leases since the suppression of the said College this covenant hath been left out. 
These are therefore to will and require you that after the receipt of this our Letter, you per- 
sist no further in refusal of the payment of them. And this we doubt not but you will the 
rather do at our motion for the favour you have lately received from us in your lease of the 
said Rectory, and for the benefits which you receive thereby far above that which the Yicar 
hath alloted for his portion, although his labours and continual residence with so great a 
people may justly look for a more full maintenance, otherwise upon knowledge of your refusal 
we shall take such order as shall be fitting, and so we bid you farewell. From Westminster 
the 25th day of June, 1607. 

Your loving friends, 

J. Fortescue, 
John Brogravb." 



The former, Sir John Fortescue, was 



chancellor, and the latter attorney of the 

135 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 

Duchy. It seems from the introduction of church. In the survey the tithes of Brad- 
this document, that there had been a suit as ford were set down as being worth five 
to the person who was bound to pay the hundred and ninety pounds; and that there 
procurations. In the inquisition of 1612, were in Bradford seven hundred and seventy- 
before set forth, Sir Richard Tempest is five acres of land, and one hundred and fifty 
returned as having the rectory lands, and acres of common. In the year 1639, about 
paying therefore to the lord of the manor, one hundred and twenty acres of the land 
one shilling and fourpence yearly. was made tithe free, for the sum of about 

From the Duchy of Lancaster the rectory ninety- four pounds. The tithes were valued 
and advowson of the vicarage came into the at the rate of fifteen shillings an acre, for all 
possession of Sir John Maynard of Footing the land in Bmdford, except about one hnn- 
G re veny, Surrey, knight, who in 1638 made dred and twenty acres lying in the Mill 
a survey of the value of the rectorial tithes Cliffe by the water side, and in the Hall-field, 
of the parish, which is well known in Brad- which then paid tithe corn and hay in kind, 
ford, and has been published, and is entitled : and valued at seventeen shillings an acre. 

« Documents relating to the Parish Church The rest of the land in the township paid 

of Bradford," edited by Dr. Outhwaite." I tithe corn only in kind, and a composition 
have now before me a very old copy of this for hay. 
survey and other documents relating to the 

The following is the account in this Survey of the quantity and value of the parsonage 
lands: — 

A Valuation of Lands belonging to the Parsonage, in particulars, as follows :— 

Total value 
Yearly at 16 years' 

Quantity. value. purchase. 

A. r. £ s. d. £ s. d. 

The Cliffe Field or Wood Field 22 2 16 256 

The Broome CU.ses— — -- — - 5 5 10 88 

Dunnel Holme, otherwise Parsonage Holme or Ing — 2 2 5 10 88 

The Doles - -- 12 2 10 40 

The Little Holme _ — — 10 2 32 

The Nether Barker Leys ______ 2 2 10 40 

The Close called the FJatts and Parsonage Fold __ __ 4 3 8 128 

The Wheat Close .- — 2 4 64 

The two Closes called Folderings __ ________ 4 64 

The five Closes called Flashes __________ 9 4 64 

The three Closes called Hurrikers__ __ __ __ .. 11 6 16 109 6 8 

The four Closes called Fulley Closes ________ 5 5 13 91 3 4 

The Upper Barker Leys— ______ 6 6 96 

The Middle Barker Leys _ 2 2 3 4 51 4 

Webster Parrack 10 16 

Starkey Close _- — - 12 2 13 42 13 4 

Jepson Parrack -- 16 8 21 6 8 

The Lower Flats __ 2 3 10 56 

84 2 8 1347 14 

The number of acres here given amount only to seventy-eic;ht, but the quantities of four 
closes are not shewn. In tho same Survey, however, these parsonage lands are stated to 
amount to nine-six acres, which was their real and ancient quantity. 

The total value of the rectorial tithes in the parish of Bradford, in 1638, is thus shewn: — 

£ s. d. 

The Tythes of Bradford _ 590 

The Parsonage Lands __ __ __ __ __ __ ._ _» 1332 

The Tythes of Manningham __ _- __ __ .. __ __ 450 

The Tythes of Boiling _ 404 

The Tythes of Wibsey __ __ _- _- 101 

The Tythes of Allerton and Wilsden — _- .. __ _. __ 82 

The Tythes of Thornton— __ -_ __ .. __ .. _. 345 
136* 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 

£ a. d, 

The Tythes of Eccleshill, together with the Wool, Lamb, and Common thereto 

• belonging, and are sold to Mr. Calverley, of Calverley, for £145 120 

The Tythes of Shipley __ __ _ 79 

The Tythes of Hortons __ __ __ _„ __ 603 

The Tythes of Ha\vorth__ ._ __ __ -. ._ __ _. 200 

The Faster Book- _ __ __ __ __ __ 470 

The Tythes of Wool and Lamb. _ 256 

A Note of such Parcels of the Parsonage of Bradford, as have been sold off. 

IN 1637. 

The Tythes of the New Land in Haworth, and Fifty Shillings per annum of 

the Easter Book, sold for __ __ __ __ __ _. __ 260 

The Tythes of the New Land in Clayton, sold for __ __ _. __ 100 

The Tythes of the New Lands in Boiling, sold for ._ __ __ __ 45 50 

IN 1639. 

The Tythes of the half of Eccleshill, together with the whole Tythe of Wool 

and Lamb and Commons, sold to Mr. Calverley, for __ __ __ 145 

The other half did belong to Savill, and he hath sold it. 

Part of the Tythe of Horton, sold to John Sharp, Jun., and John Mortimer, for 195 18 2 

Part of Tythes of Bradford and Manningham, sold to Mr. Okell and 

others, for _._ „_ __ __ __ __ __ „ «- 341 14 8 

The Easter Book alluded to in this Survey, comprised the moduses or compositions for the 
rectorial tithes collected at Easter. 

In the Parliamentary Survey of church livings, made in 1650, during the Protectorate, 
there are the following entries : — * 

Wee finde belonging to the P'ish Church of Bradford a viccaridge presentative with cure 
of souls, and Sir John Maynard hath the advowson and also the Impropriate Rectorie there. 

The Viccaridge-house, small tithes, and profitts, was worth about seaventye pounds p. ann., 
but by reason of the late warrs not now worth above fortye pounds p. ann. or thereabouts. 

There is no Mynister the Viccaridge being vacant. 

Wee finde there to be three Chapells, or Chapelryes in the said parish, viz. the Chapels 
of Wibsey, Thornton, and Haworth. 

After this the advowson and rectory came lived privately and frequented the established 

into the hands of Jonas Waterhouse, clerk. worship, but usually preached on Lord's 

This was the Jonas Waterhouse mentioned Days' evenings in his house." 

by Calamy, in his Nonconformists Memorial After the advowson of the vicarage came 

of Ejected Ministers, as having been ejected into private hands, it is not easy to trace its 

from the ministry of Bradford church. The descent from one private hand to another, 

following is Calamy's notice of him : " Mr. The following account of its descent is partly 

Jonas Waterhouse, M.A., sometime fellow of taken from Dr. Outhwaite's pamphlet before 

St. John's College, Cambridge, a learned mentioned; with additions from an abstract 

man, a lover of peace, and greatly esteemed of the title to the rectorial tithes; Bacon's 

for his works' sake. After his ejectment he Liber Regis: and other sources. 

Though there is no direct evidence to 

prove that Waterhouse was the sole minister 

* I have to acknowledge my obligation to of the church at the time of the survey of 
J. A. Lewis, Esquire, keeper of the records 1650, yet it is probable.* I am unable to 

at Lambeth Palace, for having, in a very ^_ 

handsome manner, sent me this transcript 

from the original. I am aware the Survey * There was in the middle aisle of the 

has been printed by the Record Commis- Church a monument with the following in- 
sioners, but I have been unable to obfain scription on it, but some despoiling hand has 
access to the printed copy. removed it:—" Sub hoc cippo reponit in quod 

13/ 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



slate how Wa'erhouse obtained the rectory 
and advowson from Sir John Maynard ; but 
about the year 16/8, the former conveyed 
all his interest therein, to Mary, the daugh- 
ter and heir of Sir John, and wife of 

Buller, Esquire, of Shillingham in Cornwall, 
who left it to her second son, James Buller 
of Shillingham. In 1707, he created a term 
of five hundred years, for the benefit of his 
wife, and died 14th of September, 1709. 
From the trustee?, the rectory and advowson 
came to the Rev. Nicholas Woolfe of Boyn- 
ton, Yorkshire, Clerk ; who intailed them by 
his will, dated 1748, upon the children of his 
sister Lydia, the wife of Francis Dawson of 
Kinggton-upon- Hull, merchant; and Samuel 
Daw6on, her eldest son, by force of this de- 
vise, became possessed of them, and barred 
the intail by a fine levied in 1780. He after- 
wards died intestate, and his father, the said 
Francis Dawson, obtained letters of admin- 
istration to bis property. From this Francis, 
the rectory and advowson came to his son, 
Francis Dawson of Newmarket, Esquire, 
who sold the advowson to the Rev. John 
Crosse, the vicar; of Mr. Crosse it was pur- 
chased by Henry Thornton, Esquire, of 
Clapham, whose executors sold it to 
Mr. Richard Fawcett, who afterwards con- 
veyed the advowson to the Rev. Charles 
Simeon, vicar of Trinity Church, Cambridge, 
now deceased, and in his trustees it is now 
vested. 

Such part of the rectorial possessions as 
are not sold, belonged to the Rev. Francis 
Dawson of Chiselhurst, Kent, as administra- 
tor of the personal estate of his father, the 
last-mentioned Francis Dawson, who died 
intestate. 

In a mortgage of the rectorial property, 
effected in 1796, the glebe lands of the 
parsonage were stated to consist of one hun- 
dred and eighteen acres of land ; being the 
eight oxgangs anciently belonging to the 
church, with the addition of a few acres of 
new inclosures. The tithes in that year 
were let for the sum of sixty-two pounds. 
The same year the greater part of the glebe 
lands were conveyed for the remainder of the 
before-mentioned term to William Pollard, 
William Hustler, Thomas Jones, John 
Hodgson, and Thomas Skelton, for three 



mortale fuit Jonae Waterhouse, A.M., Divi 
Johannis Coll , Cantab, quondam Socii ; Viri 

non in eruditi Qui (in novissime clapsa 

nil infelicissima Monarchiae et Episcopatus 
interruptione) fuit hujus Ecclesias Minister 
hand infidelis. Ob. 13o Februarii, Anno 
Domini M.DCCXVI. jEtatis LXXXX." 
(See Notice of Vicars.) 
138 



thousand six hundred and forty-nine pounds. 
These lands were all situated above the 
church, in Undercliffe-lane, Barkerend, and 
that locality. Since 1796 a large portion of 
the rectorial tithes have been sold. 

The following, taken from an ancient 
document, shews the nature and amount of 
the vicarial dues in former times : — 

THE 8MALL TYTHES 

Wherewith the Vicarage of Bradford is en- 
dowed are these : — Calves, Milk, Pigs, Geese, 
Turkeys, Foals, Bees, Eggs, Easter Offer- 
ings, &c. 

CALVES. 

Calves are not paid in kind, but by im- 
memorial custom eight groats have been the 
modus for a calf, which is due when any one 
person hath six or more calves calved in one 
year : the Vicar allowing out of the said 
eight groats three half-pence a-piece for so 
many calves as such person wants of ten ; 
and if any one person hath five calves in one 
year, there is a modus of sixteen-pence due 
for half a calf. 

MILK. 

Milk is not paid in kind, but by a modus 
of three half-pence for every cow that hath 
calved within the year, provided they exceed 
not the number of four ; for where a calf or 
half a calf is paid for there is nothing due 
for milk ; and for every cow that hath not 
calved, commonly called strips, there is one 
penny due. 

pies. 

Pigs are paid in kind according to this 
custom : — If the sow hath six or more pigs 
there is one pig due, the Vicar paying to the 
owner as many pence as there wants of ten ; 
and if she hath under six there is a penny a 
pig due for as many as she hath. 

GEESE AND TURKEYS. 

Geese are gathered in kind where the Vicar 
pleaseth ; where they are not taken in kind 
there is a penny a-piece due for every goose 
the owner hath, hatched and brought up in 
that year. There are few turkeys kept in 
the parish, but some there are and they pay 
as geese do, one as six ; the Vicar paying as 
many pence as there wants of ten, and so of 
geese and other tytheable things. 
foals. 

Foals are not taken in kind, but a modus 
of three half-pence is paid for every foal. 



Bees are taken in kind if the Vicar pleas- 
eth. — When any person hath six or more 
hives which swarmed that year, there is one 
due to the Vicar, he paying the owner a 
penny for every hive there wants of ten. 
There is half a hive due when the owner 
hath ten, for which he must agree with the 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD, 



Vicar, and a penny a hive is due for every 
hive any person hath under six. 

j\r oie — That only the increase of bees is to 
be paid for ; so that nothing is due for a hive 
of bees that did not swarm that year. 

EGGS. 

It is said that eggs were formerly gathered 
in kind at Shrovetide, one for every hen and 
two for every cock, but that in regard to the 
great trouble of gathering them it hath been 
a custom of long standing for every person 
in the parish that keepeth hens to pay a 
penny for them at Easter when they pay 
their other dues, the chapel ry of Haworth 
only excepted where they are yet gathered 
in kind according to the former custom. 

EASTER OFFERINGS. 

The Easter offerings are two-pence for 
every person who is 16 years old or above 
throughout the whole parish, under the name 
of communicants, and every householder pays 
a penny for his house and a half-penny for 
his reek or smoke, which are called house 
dues, and one penny for his garden. Here 
note that the master or mistress of the family 
is liable to pay for all that are in his or her 
house or family, whether relations or friends, 
boarders or servants. And it is said that if 
any person comes to reside in any family, 
and hath laid nine nights in the house before 
Easter, the master or mistress of the family 
is obliged to pay for him or them as commu- 
nicants. 

All these small tythes and other dues (ex- 
cept those in the chapelry of Haworth) are 
to be paid before Easter ; the Vicar sitting 
in the Free School to receive them, on 
Thursday before Palm Sunday, and on 
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before Eas- 
ter. But in the chapelry of Haworth the 
Vicar receives them there every Easter 
Monday, after he has preached a sermon at 
that place. 

THE SURrLICE FEES. 

Belonging to the Vicar of Bradford, according 
to an old document: — 



MARRIAGES. 

For marrying with a license, five shillings. 

For banns publishing in the Church, com- 
monly called here spurrings, sixpence, which 
is paid at the time of bringing the names of 
the persons to the Minister. 

And at the time of marriage, one shilling. 

Note.— That if either the man or woman 
live in this parish, and is married in another, 
he or she ought to pay the full dues to this 
Church. — Sed Quere. 

BURIALS. 

For burials in the Church, whether young 
children or upgrown persons, five groats. 

And in the Church-yard for every corpse 
borne underhand, ten pence. 

And for young children usually carried 
upon the head of a woman, five- pence. 

CHURCH1NGS. 

For churching of women, sixpence. 

Note. — That these surplice fees are the 
same at all the Chapels in the Parish, which 
the Curates take for the Vicar, and account 
with him and pay him at Easter. 

MORTUARIES. 

Mortuaries are paid in all parts of the 
Parish, according to the Act of Parliament 
for settling mortuaries. 

MILLS. 

There are fourteen mills for corn in the 
parish, every one of which it is probable paid 
a modus formerly, but now but six of them 
pay any thing to the Church, — the time of 
payment is at Easter. 



8. a. 

Great Horton Mill 1 8 

Sam's Mill inHorton 1 

Lenthorp Mill »_ 2 

DixonMill inShipley 2 6 

Thornton Hall Mill 2 

AnewMillinWilsden2 



Bradford Mill 
Boiling Mill 
Frizinghall Mill 
RoydesHallMill 
WilsdenOldMill 
Haworth Mill 
Oxenhope Mill 
Stanbury Mill 



I give here also a copy of the following 
terrier : — 



A TRUE NOTE AND TERRIER 

Of all the glebe lands, meadows, gardens, orchards, houses, stocks, implements, tenements, 
portions of tythes, and other rights belonging to the Vicarage and Parish Church of Bradford, 
in the county and diocese of York, now in the use and possession of Henry Heap, clerk, 
vicar of the said church, taken made and received the twenty-fifth day of July, in the year 
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, by the appointment of the most 
reverend father in Grod, Edward, Lord Archbishop of York, to be exhibited at his ordinary 
visitation, to be held at Leeds, in the said county and diocese, on the first day of August in 
the said year. — 

First. The vicarage-house, built with stone and covered with slate, situate in Barkerend 
in the township of Bradford, sixty- four feet in length and thirty- one feet in breadth within 
the walls, containing on the first floor five rooms, four of which are ceiled, three of them are 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 

floored with boards and the other two with stones, one cellar beneath the boarded room; at 
the west of the house on the second floor are seven rooms, all of which are ceiled ; one brew- 
house or out-kitchen adjoining to the same house eighteen feet long and ten and a half feet 
broad within the walls; one slated barn and stable under the same roof, walled with stone 
and brick, thirty-seven feet long and thirteen feet broad within the walls; one coach- house 
and harness-room ; one small garden on the south-west part of the said house, bounded on 
the west by Dead (Vicar) lane : also three closes of meadow ground lying contiguous and 
adjoining to the said hou>e, commonly called the New Vicarage Closes, containing three 
acres, by the said garden on the north, by a close in the occupation of Charles Harris on the 
south, and by a lane called Dead-lane on the west: also one small court between the said 
dwelling house and the high road leading from Bradford to Leeds. 

Second. The ancient glebe lands formerly consisted of three enclosures of meadow 
ground, lying contiguous in Goodmansend, (Bridge-street,) within the township of Bradford 
aforesaid, commonly called the Old Vicarage Closes, containing together four acres ; but as 
the smoke from the different mills has rendered the grass or herbage unfit for cattle the half 
of this land has been sold for ^£'1750, and the money placed in the three per cent consols, 
interest for which amounting to £G2 15s. 8d. is regularly paid to the vicar; the remaining 
two acres are bounded by the high road leading from Bradford to Wakefield on the east, 
by a house, garden and close in the occupation of John Wainwright or his undertenants 
on the south, by a brcok called Bowling-beck on the west, and by two closes in the occu- 
pation of William Maud on the north. Part of the fences are walls and part of them 
quicksets. 

Third. The churchyard containing by estimation (with the additional ground consecra- 
ted in the year 1819) one acre and thirty-four perches, is bounded by the high road leading 
from Bradford to Leeds on the south, by a road to Stott-hill on the east, by the road to Un- 
dercliffe on the north, and by a foot-path leading to the premises formerly the free grammar 
school on the west. 

Fourth. The vicarage is endowed with several small tythes, Easter-offerings, mortuaries 
and surplice dues, and other customary fees which are paid throughout the parish. 

Fifth. Belonging to the said church are one silver flagon and one large cup with a cover, 
two silver chalices and two silver patens the weight not marked, one folio bible and two com- 
mon prayer books, a brass candlestick with sixteen branches, five brass candlesticks in the 
pulpit reading desk and clerk's desk, one font and cover, one church clock, eight bells with 
their frames and chimes, and a tinkling bell, one large organ, four surplices, eight register 
parchment books, and three paper register books for marriages, baptisms, and funerals, 
pursuant to the late act of parliament. 

Sixth. The church and church-yard fence are repaired by the parish ; the chancel is 
repaired by the Impropriator, the parish finding moss, mortar, and glass. 

Seventh. To the Parish Clerk there are due from every family keeping a separate fire 
two-pence, from every one keeping a plough four-pence yearly ; for every publication of banns 
one shilling, for marriage by banns sixpence, by license two shillings and sixpence, for every 
funeral in the church-yard sixpence, fbr every funeral in the church five shillings and in the 
chancel seven shillings, and for every proclamation in the church or church-yard two-pence. 
To the sexton there is due for digging a grave and tolling the bell two shillings, and for dig- 
ging a grave in the church and tolling bell seven shillings and sixpence. The sexton is 
obliged to make the graves for children three feet in depth and of others four feet in depth. 
The clerk and sexton are appointed by the vicar. 

Eighth. In the year of our Lord 1671, Peter Sunderland, late of Fairweather-green in 
this parish, Esq., left £40 per annum for a lecturer or assistant to the vicar of Bradford. 
Ninth. For every interment in the church five guineas is (are) due to the vicar. 
Also, Nathan Dixon, late of Shipley in this parish, left the yearly sum of ten shillings for 
preaching a sermon every Candlemas day in the said church, which is now paid by Wm. 
Wainman, Esq. 

N.B. There are six chapels of ease in the parish, in five of which the curates take the 
surplice fees and account with the vicar for the same at Easter. 

To churchmen resident in Bradford, and phatically exclaim, " It is our holy and 
whose ancestors for generations have dwelt in beautifnl house, where our fathers worship- 
it, the fabric of its parish church is an object ped." With it are joined many pleasing and 
of peculiar interest, and connected with many sorrowful reminiscences to thousands in 
powerful associations. Such men may em • Bradford — their bridals were celebrated 

140 



HISTORY OF THE PxlRISH CHURCH, BRADFORD, 



within its walls, or the ordinances of the 
church administered to their children — 
underneath the numerous gravestones, "worn 
smooth with busy feet now seen no more," 
with which its floor is covered, or in its yard 
" ruffled with the cells of death," their 
fathers, or some one near and dear to them 
sleep. Nay even to every inhabitant of the 
town professing the Common Faith, whose 
feelings are not lamentably warped by party 
prejudices, the Old Church is an object of 
venerable interest. For four centuries the 
offices of Christianity have been performed 
within its walls, and very probably on the 
same spot for eight centuries ! With Addi- 
son's beautiful and touching reflections on 
Westminster Abbey in his hand, a thinking 
man may, even in this comparatively obscure 
church, preach himself a sermon which will 
be of lasting advantage to him. In its chan- 
cel lie mingled the remains of priests of the 
Old Faith and Protestant Clergymen. With- 
in its walls the Churchman and Dissenter — 
the Whig, the Tory, and the Radical, rest 
peaceably together. In this House of the 
Dead, how all the little quarrels and petty 
differences in politics and religion, that make 
man the enemy of man — all the worldly 
jarrings are hushed ! 

In the reign of Henry VI, the population 
of the town and parish had so much increased 
that the church became insufficient to ac- 
comodate the parishioners, for it must be 
remembered that all then thought it a 
needful duty to repair, at least on the Lord's 
day and holidays, to church. With the 
exception of Haworth, there existed no other 
place of worship in the parish, and the 
inhabitants of all other parts duly assembled 
to pay their devotions at the Parish Church. 
There can be no doubt that the present 
structure, probably the third on the same 
site, occupies the ground where the Anglo- 
Norman Church, the Kirk in the Wood of 
olden times, stood surrounded by the remains 
of the Sylva, once covering the whole of the 
hill-side, and mentioned in the Conqueror's 
Survey. 

The present church, dedicated to St. Peter, 
was erected in the time of Henry the sixth, 
and finished in the thirty-sixth year of his 
reign (1458).* The difficulty in raising in 



* On the 9th of May, 1861, I visited the 
church to witness the alterations or repairs 
going on ; and on knocking off some of the 
plaster, I found that the west wall of the 
vestry, now inside the church, is outside work, 
for the coping stones were visible ; and 
therefore it is almost certain that when the 



those times heavy rates was so great, that 
there is no doubt it was a considerable time 
in building. 'I he erection of Halifax church 
occupied twenty years, and I presume the 
church here would not be completed in much 
less time. There requires no stronger in- 
stance that this work had exhausted the 
pockets of the inhabitants of the parish, than 
the fact, that the steeple occupied fifteen 
years in building, and was not completed till 
fifty years after the body of the church ; 
being finished the twenty-third of Henry the 
seventh (1508). 

On the 26th March, 1440, a visitation of 
Bradford church was made by the Vicars of 
Halifax, Calverley, Birstal, and Batley, for 
some purpose, we may suppose, connected 
with the building of the same. Dr. Whita- 
ker states that not a vestige of the original 
structure remained. This is not quite cor- 
rect. When the church was re- fronted in 
1832, fragments of an ancient cross, and of 
sculptured stones, were found in the old 
wall, and had very probably been remnants 
of the previous Norman church. This fact 
supports the supposition that it stood on or 
about the same site as the present one. 

Of the Norman church, which preceded 
the present one, there is no ground for 
doubting that it stood on the site of the 
present pile : if there were, several reasons 
might be advanced, rendering the point suf- 
ficiently certain. The Norman church being 
built at a time when the population of the 
parish was thin, would only be of small 
dimensions; f and as Dr. Whitaker observes, 

Leaventhorpe Chantry was founded, the 
north wall of the chancel was taken down, 
and the two arches with pier were inserted, 
so as to make a connection with the chancel 
itself. There is a window also in the west 
end wall of the vestry, and this was doubtless 
built up at the time the Leaventhorpe chapel 
was erected. The vestry itself was no doubt 
built at the same time as the church, in 
the year 1458. 

t There is a current tradition in Bradford 
that the ancient church here was called 
" Chapel in the Wood." I was once informed 
by avery old man residing on themoorsabove 
Thornton, that he had heard his father say 
that in olden times the inhabitants of those 
parts came to worship at " Chapel i'thWood, 
at Bradford." This tradition is alluded to in 
the Introduction to the 'Memoirs,' edited by 
Hartley, published in 1776. One fact is 
certain, that that quarter of Bradford where 
the church now stands was formerly very 
woodw 

141 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



the date of the erection of the present church 
may clearly be ascertained, as that also of a 
great increase in the population, by means 
of the extension of the woollen manufacture. 
It was then the place of worship for the 
inhabitants of the whole parish, except 
Haworth, where there whs a chapel in the 
year 1317. 

Bradford Church is a good specimen of the 
style of ecclesiastical architecture prevailing 
in the reign of Henry the sixth ; and a person 
in his noviciate of such matters would find 
no difficulty in assigning the erection to that 
period, were it not recorded; so plain and 
distinct are the characters of its style. It 
stands on a site rapidly declining to the west. 
The length of the nave (inclusive of the 
lobby or vestibule, thirty-seven feet) is one 
hundred and seven feet ; its height to the 
ceiling, thirty feet; and breadth fifty- four 
feet. The chancel is forty- seven feet in 
length. The great length of the body of the 
church, built with fine free-stone, its large 
and numerously ramified windows, pinnacled 
battlements, varied ornaments, and lofty and 
beautiful tower (thirty yards high), give 
the whole structure an imposing and pictur- 
esque appearance. (1) There is probably 
no parish church in Yorkshire that has a 
nobler or more venerable aspect, or presents 
a better example of the decorated style 
of English church architecture than this 
church. 

The interior is too much crowded with 
galleries to have a graceful or striking effect. 
The nave consists of three aisles, and from 
the steeple to the upper choir, is supported 
on each side by eleven gothic substantial 
arches. In the lobby, which is separated 
from the body of the church by a wooden 
partition, stands the baptismal font, of di- 
mensions sufficient for the immersion of the 
whole body of the infant. This font seems 
not of ancient date. (2) The cover to it is 



(1) The only real fine specimen of archi- 
tecture at this church is the tower, which is 
solid and massive, and bears several coats of 
arms, now almost obliterated : as those of 
the Tempest, Boiling, and Saville families. 

(2) The font which stood in the church 
when Mr. James first published the above, 
was of Grecian design, and was probably 
placed there in 1705, when the church was 
re-pewed. In the year 1849 it was removed 
to Christ church, Darley street, and was re- 
placed by one of more appropriate design, 
worked in Caen stone, the gift of E. Hail- 
stone, Esq., of Horton Hall, to whom, and 
to Mrs. Hailstone, the church is indebted foil 

112 



a choice piece of crockettcd-lattice-work ; I 
have never seen a better. I have been in- 
formed, but have not seen it, that in the in- 
terior of it there is a date sometime in the 
latter part of the sixteenth century. Whe- 
ther this be so or not, it is quite certain that 
tin's cover is of considerable antiquity. I he 
screen which formerly separated the body of 
the church from the chancel, has long since 
disappeared. (3) The nave would be very 
darksome, on account of being surrounded 
by galleries, were it not for a range of clere- 
story windows. The chancel is elevated 
above the floor of the nave three steps. Dr. 
Whitaker observes of the great eastern win- 
dow ot the choir, (4) "It is an awkward 
insertion containing a multitude of lights, 
apparently about the time of James the 
first, and I much suspect that the much 
handsomer though smaller window which 
now appears on the south side of the choir, 
and eastward from the Boiling chapel, to 
have been the identical one which was re- 
moved on that occasion." There are in this 



the communion cloth and linen, and for the 
desks. The font cover is co-eval with the 
present church, and is of late perpendicular 
order of architectural ornament. There is 
another precisely the same in the parish 
church of Halifax, ai.other at Calverley, and 
it is not improbable that the same architect 
may have been employed both at Halifax 
and Bradford, when these churches were 
erected. 

(3) The screen which was placed in the 
church in 1705, was of Grecian design, and 
was, on the construction of the eastern gallery, 
hoisted up, absurdly, without any case or 
place to rest in. The colours of the old 
volunteers of 1804, used to hang over the 
screen. The whole is now (1867) with eas- 
tern gallery, entirely taken away. 

(4) This east window (now removed) was of 
the domestic architecture of the time, and 
was placed there by Dame Mary Maynard, 
widow of Sir John Maynard, Knight, (who 
was keeper of the Great Seals to King 
Charles the first,) whose arms and initials 
under the date 1671 are placed externally 
over the window, and may still be very 
plainly seen. She was the lay impropriator 
and possessed the rectorial tithes. John 
Sharp, the father of Abraham and Thomas 
Sharp, of Little Horton, was agent for Dame 
Mary Maynard, and collected the rectorial 
tithes for her. On referring to the List of 
Vicars and Rectors, it will be seen that this 
lidy presented in 1667, Abraham Brooks- 
bank, Clerk, M.A., as Vicar. 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



window a few fragments of painted glass, but 
nothing perfect except the representation of 
Bradford Arms. (5) 

There appears not to have been a chantry 
in this church ; at least Archbishop Holgate, 
in his return of chantries in Yorkshire, in 
the reign of Edward the sixth, is silent as to 
one being here — but it is an undisputable 
fact that there are very numerous omissions 
in that return. There was, however, in the 
church, a chapel belonging to Boiling hall, 
on the south side of the chancel. The place 
is yet well known. From the fact of the 
Boilings directing their bodies to be buried 
before the altar, it seems probable that the 
chapel had not been formed till the time of 
their successors, the Tempests. 

Robert Boiling made his will, proved 
1487, giving his soul to God Almighty, St. 
Mary, and all Saints, and his body to be 
buried before the altar in Bradford church. 

Sir Richard Tempest, of Boiling -hall, 
knight, by his will, proved twenty-ninth of 
January, 1537, gives his soul to God Al- 
mighty, and his body to be buried in Our 
Lady's Queere, in the church of Bradford. 
(Torre's MSS., page 797.) There is little 
doubt, as he was the possessor of Boiling-hall 
soon after the above-named Robert Boiling, 
that he had formed this chapel, and dedicated 
it to the Virgin Mary ; and probably a small 
altar stood in it, at which a temporary priest 
afterwards chanted requiems for the repose 
of the souls of him and his successors. 
Several of the ancient race of the Tempests 
are buried in that chapel. When Dodsworth 
visited the church in 1619, there were in the 



(5) The fragments of glass- are not worthy 
of note. Until the Charter of Incorporation 
was given and a Coat of Arms granted by 
the Heralds College, there was no such thing 
as an authorized Coat of Arms borne by the 
town. It was the fancy of some one to use 
the Arms of a family called Bradford, who 
lived at Ardsley near Wakefield. The Brad- 
ford Horn, lately in the possession of Mr. 
Charles Rhodes, and presented by him to 
Titus Salt, Esq., is also a myth ; and there 
is not the slightest proof that it was ever used 
by the ancient family of Northrop 's ; and no 
one who has seen the few remaining Tenure 
horns in the kingdom, would ever have 
arrived at the conclusion that it was the 
original Tenure Horn. The Bradford Horn 
is now at the rooms of the Bradford Philo- 
sophical Society, having been presented to 
the members when that society was formed, 
by Titus Salt, Esq., now of Methley Park, 
near Leeds. 



great window of the south choir the arms of 
Badelsmere, Scargill, Eland, Boiling, and 
the Earl of Lancaster. 

Another proof of the progress of the town 
may be adduced from the fact, that a way- 
side chapel was soon after erected here. It 
is mentioned in Leland's Itinerary, but, 
until lately, its site was unknown. A record 
respecting it has been discovered in the York 
Archiepiscopal registers, from which it ap- 
pears it had been erected previous to the 
year 1466 near, probably on the south side 
of Ive-bridge, now called Sun-bridge. Mr. 
Edward Hailstone of Horton Hall, is of 
opinion that it was so called from Ave- 
bridge ; a deed in hss possession, mentioning 
Avegate, in Bradford, doubtless the same as 
Ivegate. In the middle ages these wayside 
chapels for the use of travellers, were fre- 
quently met with, and were generally placed 
on bridges, or near thereto for wayfarers, 
who, according to the prevailing feelings of 
those days, were anxious to receive the con- 
solations and sanctions of religion, and could 
not attend the ordinary services of the church. 
Throughout Yorkshire, there were many 
chapels of this description ; that on the bridge 
at Wakefield is the best known. The sub- 
joined is a translated copy of the license 
granted by Archbishop Neville for performing 
divine offices in the chapel at Ivebridge: — 

George, etc. — To our beloved inhabitants 
of the town of Bradford in our diocese : 
inasmuch as a chapel in honour of the Holy 
Trinity and Saint Sitha, the virgin, has been 
erected, situated at the end of the bridge at 
Bradford aforesaid, the present licence shall 
enable any suitable chaplains to celebrate 
masses and other divine offices, with sub 
masses, to you and all thither coming, pro- 
vided that the said chapel shall cause nothing 
to the prejudice of the Parish Church ; so 
that to you, and all travellers coming thither 
to hear such chaplains as may be permitted to 
celebrate in such sort as at present, to you, 
and all others thither coming, according to 
the tenor of this present granted faculty, and 
special license during our good pleasure. 
Dated under our Seal, at our house, situate 
at Westminster, 25th November, A.D., 1466, 
and the second of our translation. (Reg. 
George Neville, Pt. 1.. 56a.) 

A St. Sitha occurs in the Romish Bede 
Roll. There was in Colne chapel, on the 
allotment of pews there, in 1576, St. Cyte's 
Quire.* 



* St. Sitha or Osith, Virgin and Abbess, 

143 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



By deed dated the first of March, 1671, 
Peter Sunderland, Esquire, of Fairweather- 
green, gave a rent-eharge of forty pounds a 
year, out of houses and land in Bradford, &c , 
to trustees, " To the intent and purpose to 
permit and suffer from time to time, for 
ever hereafter, a pious learned and able 
preaching minister of God's Holy Word, 
being of the degree of Master of Arts at the 
least, and conformable to the discipline of 
the Church of England, as it then was 
established, and of a sober and Christian 
conversation, and lawfully licensed accord- 
ing to the canons and constitutions in that 
case contained, and duly exercising his 
ministerial function of pra} r er and preaching 
every Sunday or Lord's Day in the afternoon, 
in the parish church of Bradford aforesaid, 
as a lecturer or assistant to the Yicar, to 
receive the said yearly rent-charge." Mr. 
Sunderland directed that the lecturer should 
be chosen by the trustees for the time being, 
the vicar to be one ; and if they neglected 
to do so within eleven weeks after the death 
of a former lecturer, then the power of ap- 
pointing one, devolved upon the Master and 
Fellows of St. Peter's College, Cambridge. 
He also directed that in remembrance of this 
act of charity, and of his having presented 
to the church a large silver communion cup, 
and also a silver paten, the vicars of Brad- 
ford should, upon every second Sunday after 
Easter, in the forenoon, preach a commemo- 
ration sermon, and the lecturer to be at the 
charge of the vicar's dinner for that day. A 
custom now abolished. 

The old vicarage-house in Goodmansend 
having become ruinous and unfit for resi- 
dence, in the year 1 695, the present vicarage- 
house was bought for the sum of one hun- 
dred and fifty-three pounds, raised by vol- 
untary subscriptions.* It had shortly before 



born at Quarendon, and daughter of Fre- 
wald, a Mercian Prince, and niece to Editha, 
to whom belonged the town and manor of 
Ailesbury. She built a monastery at Chick 
near Colchester, and was crowned with 
martyrdom during the inroads of Hinguar 
and Hubba, the barbarous Danish Leaders 
in or about the year 870. Her body was 
removed to Ailesbury, and afterwards to 
Chick. The 7th of October is her Saint's 
day. 

* The following are the names of the 
subscribers, with the sum given by each : — 

£ s. d. 

John Lord, Archbishop of York__50 

John Rookes of Royds-hall. E6q. 10 
144 



been occupied by Francis Gledstone, lecturer 
at the church. Along with the vicarage, 
passed also "one barn, commonly called the 
tithe or teaned laitb, situate in the croft, 
on the south side of the said messuage." 



£ s. d. 
F. Lindley of Boiling-hall, Esq... 6 
John Weddell, Esq ._ ..600 

Mr. John Field of Shipley ..500 

William Mortimer of Schoolmore 5 
E. Morton, of Thornton-hall, Esq. 6 
Mr. Isaac Hollings __ __ 5 

Mr. William Swaine -- -.300 
Mr. Thomas Gill ._ __ ..400 
Mr. Thomas Hook.. __ __ 3 5 

Mr Richard Smith ._ ..200 

Mr. John Lister of Manningham 2 
Mr. Jas. Smith of Manningham.. 2 
Jeremiah Bower __ __ __3 

Benjamin Bower __ __ ..2 

Abraham Balme __ __ .... 2 

Thomas Rowland _. ..100 

Mr. William Field, of Shipley, ._ 2 

William Wilkinson __ 1 

James Garth, of Heaton __ 2 

Samuel Stansfield __ __ 2 

Mrs. Mary Reresby __ 5 

Mr. John Smith, of Wakefield ..200 
Thomas Ledgard __ __ __2 00 

Mr. John Lister, of Little Horton 2 
Mrs. Sharp, of Little Horton ..0 10 
Mr. [saac Sharp, of Little Horton 10 

William Dixrn __ 2 

Thomas Hodgson ..015 

Mr. Richard Hawson __ _. 5 
Jonas Holdsworth.. __ __0l0 
Mr. William Rawson, of Boiling 1 10 
Mr. William Rawson, of Bradford 1 10 
Mr. Cockcroft ._ __ __ 3 4 
David Parkinson __ __ _. 1 
Jaspar Pickard __ __ ..0 5 
Mr. Josias Midgley, of Headley ._ 5 
Mr. T.Crabtree, ofClockhouse _. 1 

Wm. Lepton __ __ 1 

Mr. R. Richardson, of Newhall _. 1 
Mr. Thos. Walker.. ._ ..100 

Isaac Ellis __ 10 

Jonathan Hopkinson __ 10 

The original Vicarage-house here referred 
to by Mr. James, stood a little below the 
Neptune Inn, in Bridge-street. In 1852, 
an Act of Parliament was obtained to 
empower the sale of the Vicarage near the 
Church, and the lands thereunto belonging. 
With the money obtained by these sales, 
the present commodious Vicarage- house w.ia 
erected, in Great Horton Lane, near Rich- 
mond Terrace. 



HISTORY OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



Thus the residence of the vicar was removed 
from Good 111 ansend. The site of the old 
vicarage was about the spot where Messrs. 
Wood and Walker's immense worsted-mills 
stand. What a transformation ! I have 
been unable to ascertain whether the road 
now called u Vicar Lane " be of ancient date ; 
if so, it would probably form the track of 
the old vicars from their residence to the 
church. 

In 1 703, the rate amounted to two hundred 
and forty pounds, and the next year to one 
hundred and eighty pounds. I apprehend 
these heavy rates were connected with the 
pewing of the churoh. 

Previous to the year 1705, the sittings in 
the church were mere stalls, of irregular 
shapes and dimensions. A commission was 
granted by John Sharp, Archbishop of York, 
to twelve inhabitants of the parish, to pull 
down these stalls, and pew the church in an 
uuiform manner; and in execution of this 
commission the ehurch was pewed as the 
body of the church now remains (1867). 

In the year 1715, the old bells were re- 
cast, at a cost of nearly two hundred pounds. 
The church-rate for that year amounted to 
two hnndred and forty pounds. 

The church was, in 1724, roof-casted, and 
timber for the purpose was brought from 
Tong Wood. This measure emanated from 
au order of vestry, at which only six persons 
were present, and which had not been con- 
vened by public notice. The churchwardens 
and chapelwardens of eight of the townships 
in the parish, (chosen according to custom,) 
sent a written remonstrance to the vicar, 
Mr. Kennet, against enforcing this order of 
vestry ; but their efforts were of no avail. 
The rate for 1724 and the next year, amounted 
to two hundred and ten pounds. 

On the 4th of March, 1785, a faculty was 
granted to vicar Crosse to erect the south 
gallery. There was a gallery (probably 
where the organ was) (1841) before, as the 
faculty directs that the passage to the former 
should proceed up the "present staircase 
leading to the old gallery, through the end 
of a pew belonging to Mr. Sclater." The 
seats in this gallery were sold by Mr. Crosse, 
for upwards of three hundred pounds 

Mr. Crosse, on the 28th of January, 1786, 
obtained another faculty for the erection of 
the north gallery. The money arising from 
the sale of the pews in the north and south 
galleries, was invested in the purchase of 
Upper Ponden Farm, in Wilsden ; the rents 
of which for ever were to be applied in pay- 
ment of the organist's salary. He now 
receives them. The organ had just before 
Holroyd's Collectanea, No. 10. 



been erected by voluntary subscription.* 

The appropriation of the money arising 
from the sale of these pews, was among the 
causes that led to the unhappy lawsuits with 
the inhabitants of Haworth, for refusing to 
pay their ancient proportion of the church- 
rate, as they contended the money should 
have been applied to the purposes of the 
rate. 

The hearers at the parish chnrch during 
Mr. Crosse's incumbency increased so rapidly, 
that even with the addition of the above- 
mentioned two galleries, the accommodation 
was not sufficiently ample for his numerous 
congregation; and on the 9th of May, 1797, 
another faculty was obtained for erecting the 
east gallery. For this purpose Mr. Crosse 
purchased the chancel of the lord of the 
manor, to whom and his predecessors it had 
immemorially belonged. 

The church-yard having become too small 
for the decent interment of the dead, an act 
of parliament was obtained in 1817, for en- 
larging the church -j-ard, by adding to it a 
piece of land called Mountain -croft, ad- 
joining on the north side. The trustees ap- 
pointed by the act, and their successors, were 
authorized to divide the additional burying 
ground into two moieties, the one to be set 
out for the use of the public, and the other 
to be sold in lots to such persons as were 
willing to purchase the same for private 
burial-ground. 

The church was refronted with large free- 
Stone and re-slated (the old slate being de- 
cayed) in the year 1833. The old oak timber 
being perfectly sound, was allowed to remain. 
An elegant ceiling was also put up, and other 
alterations made.f The costs of these 



* The Reverend Edward Balme, vicar of 
Finchingfield, in the county of Essex, gave 
eighty pounds towards the organist's salary. 

In an old memorandum book, very kindly 
lent me by Mr. Booth Illingworth, builder, 
I find the following : — " The organ of Brad- 
forth church was made by Mr. Donaldson, of 
Newcastle, and it arrived at Bradforth 
church, April 10th, 1786, and the ora f orio 
(was) on May 1st, 1786 ; and the first Psalm 
that was played with it, was the 100 Psalm, 
on Sunday 7th of the same month " Rev. 
John Crosse, was then vicar; and Rev. M. 
Atkinson, •'■Afternoon Man" (Lecturer). 
This book was formerly the property of Mr. 
George Beanland, and contains some very cu- 
rious entries about Bradford and former times. 

t That is now removed, and the fine old 
oak roof of perpendicular work, has been 
exposed to view. 

145 



AECHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION OF ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 



repairs amounted to about one thousand 
eight hundred pounds, including one hundred 
pounds laid out in repairing and beautifying 
the organ. 

A custom has iramemoriably prevailed of 
raising the rates for the repairs of the 
church, in certain proportions from the 
different townships of the parish. There is 
the following entry in the Vestry Book of 
1679: — "It is an ancient custom in the 
parish of Bradford thus to proportion the 
church lay. First, that the chapelry of 
Haworth pay a fifth part of the whole same ; 
then Bradford town a third part of the re- 
maining sume; and the rest to be equally 
divided according the to ch-wardens of the 
several towns of Thornton, Heaton-cum- 
Clayton,* Allerton-cnm- Wilsden, Great and 
Little Horton, Wibsey and Bierley, Shipley, 
Manningham, Boiling, Eccleshill." It is 
evident that this usage must have taken its 
rise in times when Haworth bore a different 
relationship to the other townships of the 
parish in wealth and population to that in 
which it stands in modern times The inha- 
bitants of Haworth in 1785 refused to pay 
their ancient proportion; and in 1/89 an 
action was brought in the Ecclesiastical 
Court of York against them, to compel them 
to pay it. It was afterwards discovered that 
the Ecclesiastical Court had no jurisdiction 
to enforce the payment of church-rates, and 
a mandamus was obtained from the Court of 
King's Bench, commanding the chapelwar- 
dens of Haworth to levy the rate according 
to the ancient custom. After some technical 
proceedings, an action to determine the 
question of the custom was tried at York, 
before Mr. Justice Buller and a special jury, 
in 1792, and a verdict given against Haworth. 
A motion was made for a new trial, which 
was unsuccessful. The inhabitants of Ha- 
worth after this paid their ancient proportion 
till the year 1810. when they again refused, 
and another mandamus was applied for with- 
out success, on the objection that the rate 
was retrospective, being laid to reimburse 
the churchwardens for sums expended by 
them. A rate was, however, shortly laid 
prospectively, and another action tried at 
York Lent assizes, in 1812, when Haworth 
was again worsted. 

♦ Previous to the year 1800, the townships 
of Clayton and Heaton were associated to- 
gether for (I believe) highway purposes. At 
the Quarter Sessions held in Pontefract, in 
that year, the connection was dissolved. 
Thornton arid Denholme ; and Allertonwith 
Wilsden; remain associa'ed to the present 
day. 

146 



The walls of the church are incrusted 
with a number of beautiful monuments. 
The undermentioned three deserve a notice 
here. 

On the north wall of the upper chancel, 
and within the altar railings, is probably one 
of the finest pieces of sculpture that this 
age has produced. It is to the memory of 
Abraham Balme, a gentleman of Bradford j 
and by the chisel of the celebrated Flaxman. 
Cunningham, in his life of Flaxman, says 
that the great sculptor thought this monu- 
ment, and one erected for the Yarborough 
family at Street Thorp, near York, to be 
" two of his most effective compositions." 
That to Mr. Balme is a choice piece of" mo- 
tionless grace." It is a personation of vene- 
rable Age instructing Yourh. Whether the 
symmetry, ease, and beauty of the figures — 
the natural disposition of the drapery — or 
the happiness of the conception be considered, 
it must be regarded as a piece of almost 
unequalled excellence in English sculpture. 

In the space which anciently formed 
" Boiling Chapel," and which is now enclosed 
with iron rails, there is an elegant marble 
monument to the late William Sharp. Esq , 
of this town, surgeon. — A female figure of 
excellent sculpture, and of the human size, 
is leaning in a sorrowful attitude upon a 
square pediment, on the front of which is a 
basso-relievo likeness of Mr. Sharp. 

In the chanc 1, there is a marble monu- 
ment erected by Miss Hartley to the memory 
of her parents, Samuel and Mary Hartley. 
The monument is surmounted by a beauti- 
fully executed figure in relief of a female in 
the attitude of submission to the dispensa- 
tions of Providence. 

Close to the west gate of the church-yard, 
there is lying a stone six feet in length, upon 
which is rudely sculptured the figure of a 
tree, branching at the top in the form of a 
cross. It is probable that anciently this 
stone stood in some part of Bradford church- 
yard ; as, in former days, crosses were com- 
monly erected in such places, before a church 
was erected. 



ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION 

OF ST. PETERS PARISH CHURCH, 

BRADFORD, 

AS IT WAS BEFORE THE RECENT 
ALTERATIONS. 

[I am able to present the reader with 
an Architectural Description of the Parish 
Church, drawn up by the late Rev. Joshua 



ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION OF ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 



Fawcett, M.A., Incumbent of Low Moor, 
and published by Mr. E. A. W. Taylor, 
Bookseller, in Kirkgate, in 1845.*] 

The Church of St. Peter's consists of a 
" Tower, Nave with Aisles, Chancel with 
North and South Chapels. The general 
style of the building may be considered 
Perpendicular English, although it is of a 
debased character. 

" Tower. — The Tower consists of four 
stories, and is supported by stayed buttresses, 
square set. The upper story is lighted on 
all sides by windows filled in with loavering, 
over each of which runs a drip-stone, which 
is returned on the walls. In the second 
story are no lights. In the third, a window 
of six lights, cinq-foiled, the upper or sub- 
sidiary ones, which are divided by an em- 
battled transom bar, trefoiled. The whole is 
surmounted by a drip-stone, er weather- 
moulding. Below this wii dow is a door- way, 
with a depressed head, the character of 
which seems to indicate an earlier date than 
almost any other portion of the building. 
The Tower is terminated by an embattled 
parapet, with sunk tre-foiled panelling and 
meagre crocketed pinnacles. 

" Nave. — The Nave is lighted by windows 
on the north and south sides. Those on the 
north consist of three lights, cinq-foiled, the 
upper lights tre-foiled. The windows o 1 the 
south side are in their general character 
similar to those on the north, but modern, 
forming part of the work of restoration 
carried on in the year 1832. The whole of 
these are under depressed heads. The but- 
tresses on the north side are stayed, and of 
the style usually adopted in buildings of this 
class. Those on the south have nothing to 
recommend them except the solidity of their 
masonry. The north clerestory windows 
consist of two lights, tre-foiled. Two of 
them have had their mullions cut away, and 
wood sashes introduced, much to the dis- 
figurement of the Church. The clerestory 
windows of the south side consist of three 
lights each, tre foiled, under heads similarly 
depressed with those of the aisles. The roof 
on the north side has no parapet, either on 
clerestory or aisle, and probably never had 
any; this, however, has been introduced on 



* "A Memorial, Historical and Architec- 
tural, of the Parish Church of St. Peter's, 
Bradford, Yorkshire ; by the Rev. J. Faw- 
cett, M.A." Dedicated "To the Rev. W. 
Scoresby, D.D., F.R.S., etc., etc., President, 
and the Members of the Church Institution." 
Published at their unanimous request. 



the south. The roof is of its original pitch, 
and is covered with the grey slate of the 
country. The door- way on the north is of 
debased character, and the door of very 
modern and unpretending form. That on 
the south is more architecturally correct, 
and covered by a porch of good proportions 
and fair design. 

" Chancel. — The proportions of the 
Church deserve high praise, unlike the de- 
signs of modern times. In short, in this 
respect, the Parish Church of Bradford may 
be taken as a good specimen of the general 
arrangement of the parts of a Church, in 
the day when architecture was made the 
study and rule. On the north side, the 
Leventhorpe Chapel or Aisle is lighted by a 
three-light window, cioq-foiled, the upper, or, 
subsidiary lights, tre-foiled. The north-east 
window of the Chancel consists of three 
lights, similarly foiled. On the south side, 
the Boiling Chapel is lights d by windows of 
truly debased character, the heads circular, 
and the mullions running up in perpendicular 
lines without any foliation. The south- east 
window of the chancel of five lights, cinq- 
foiled, central-light disparting, the subsidi- 
ary ones tre-foiled. This is by far the best 
window in the Church. The east window is 
of eight lights,andof most debased character.* 
The Chancel is supported at the east by 
diagonal staged buttresses. The gab'e is 
surmounted by the remains of a cross, which 
has originally been in the form of a wheel. 
On the north side is a small door- way, called 
the Priest's Door, which leads by two steps 
to the floor of the Chancel. The door-way 
on the south is modern, and surmounted by 
a coat of arms. The pitch of the roof is 
much more elevated than the Nave, and is 
covered with the same material as the Nave. 
The South, Boiling Chapel, has been rebuilt 
'at no very distant period, as the style of the 
masonry shows, and the absence of that 
architectural character which marks the 
other portions of the building. Over the 
east window of the Chancel has been an 
inscription which now bears the date 161G. 

INTERIOR. 

"Chancel. — The floor of the Chancel is 
elevated above that of the Nave by three 
steps, and rises by a regular ascent to the 
platform on which are fixed the Altar -rails. 
This floor has been lowered, as also that of 
the Nave, as the bases of the piers show ; 
but the one probably held the same re'ation 
to the other which it now bears. On the 
south side, the Boiling Chapel is separated 
from the Chancel by two arches of larger 



Now replaced. 



147 



ACCOUNT OF ALTERATIONS MADE IN ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 



dimensions than those of the Nave. The 
same may be said of the Leventhorpe 
Chapel, on the north side. The space in 
front of the Altar is enclosed by strong 
balustre rails, and the walls surrounding it, 
are cased with wooden panelling, of domestic 
rather than ecclesiastical form. The writer 
of this has carefully examined the wall of 
the Chancel now concealed by this panelling, 
but has not been able to discover the least 
traces of the ancient appendages of an Altar, 
— viz., a piscina, or aumbrie, or sedile. The 
roof of the Chancel deserves especial notice, 
from the mode of its construction, and the 
beauty of the ornaments which are intro- 
duced into it. It is open, and of wood, and 
rests on embattled hammer beams, and span- 
drils; the intersections of the beams, and 
thewall plates are well carved, but now so 
thickly coated with whitewash as almost to 
conceal their beauty.f In some cases the 
bosses and terminations of the spandrils have 
been removed. 

"Rood Screen. — The screen which 
formerly separated the Chancel from the 
Nave, was doubtless elevated to its present 
lofty position, at the time when the gallery 
was erected. It is of excellent workman- 
ship, but of that style which renders it very 
unsightly in a Gothic edifice. Probably the 
original Rood Screen, which stood in this 
position, was entered by a staircase, which 
yet remains, in the north wall of the Church, 
in a direct line with the Chancel Arch. 

"Nave. — The Nave and Ante Church 
are separated from the aisles by nine 
arches, of somewhat similar character, 
though smaller dimensions than those in 
the Chancel, and of unequal span. These 
arches rest on clustered columns, the 
capitals of which are of meagre pretensions, 
and those on the south different from those 
on the north side. The south aisle was 
taken down and re-built in the year 1832, 
at which time the south clerestory windows 
of the Nave, and the dormer lights* of this 
aisle, which before had been dissimilar in 
form, were made to assume a more regular 
appearance. The north clerestory windows 
(as has been observed,) with the exception of 
two, preserve their original form. The bases 
of many of the piers have been most shame- 
fully cut away, in order to make additional 
accommodation for the pews; and thus 
public safety is endangered to procure a 
little private convenience. 

" Roof. — The roof of the nave is an 
object deserving of attention, and is a very 



* Windows iu a sloping roof, t 1846. 
148 



beautiful specimen of perpendicular work. 
The original roof appears perfectly sound, 
and is all formed of solid oak. The roof of 
the north aisle is very good, and probably of 
the same date with that of the Chancel. 

''Dimensions. — Extreme length, 172 ft., 
extreme breadth, 54 ft.; Tower — noith to 
south, 19 ft 5 in., east to west, 18 ft. 6 in. ; 
Nave— length, 99 ft. 1 in., breadth, 23 ft.; 
North Aisle- brtadrh, 12 ft. 10 in. ; South 
Aisle — breadth, 13 ft. 7 in.; Chancel — 
length, 44 ft. 5 in., breadth, 23 ft. 7 in. 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ALTER- 
ATIONS MADE IN ST. PETER'S 
PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 

The desirability of effecting many needful 
improvements in the arrangements of the 
Church had impressed her officers many 
years ; plans for this object were made in 
1845, and subsequent periods, but various 
obstacles presenting themselves, they were 
laid aside till 1860 and 1862. 

The nave of the Church was the portion 
with which it was deemed advisable to 
commence, leaving the chancel to be dealt 
wi h at a later period : accordingly (having 
made choice of Mr. Thomas Hill, of this 
town, as the contractor,) the workmen pro- 
ceeded to take down the west gallery, and 
shortly after re-erected it in an enlarged 
state, at the extreme west end of the nave, 
to the great distaste, no doubt, of those who 
had the opportunity of seeing the whole 
length of the nave unencumbered by so un- 
sightly an appendage. The side galleries at 
the same time were extended westerly, an 
increase in the accommodation being neces- 
sary to compensate the pew- owners of the 
east gallery, now removed. Theorga", which 
extended to within such a small distance of 
the ceiling, that some of the pipes were use- 
less, was completely removed, portions being 
transmitted to Messrs. Holt's factory, at 
Leeds, there to undergo the treatment which 
has made so marked an improvement in its 
powers. 

A short while after this the flat plaster 
ceiling, which so much detracted from the 
appearance of the building, was removed, 
and the old opeu timbered roof exposed to 
view. The woodwork being iu a tolerably 
lair state of preservation, but i'ew repairs 
were necessary: the curved brackets and 
wall posts at the end of the trusses, which 
were wanting, have been added, sufficient 
proof of their former existence being afforded 
by the mortice-holes in the old beams 



ACCOUNT OF ALTERATIONS MADE IN ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 



corbels of Caen stone, representing angels, 
with different instruments of music, have 
been a'lded to support the brackets : the in- 
tersection* of the roof-ribs have been covered 
with carved oak pateras, and the spaces be- 
tween them plastered to exclude any draughts 
of air— coloured patterns may probably 
hereafter be introduced in these spaces, and 
will heighten considerably the effect. Now 
that the roof is freed from the additions of 
our beautifying forefathers, and we see it in 
its probably normal condition, we cannot 
conceive what reasons could have induced 
them to hide it by such an un ecclesiastical 
object as a flat ceiling. 

. The unsightly floor in the lower part of 
the tower, used by the bell-ringers, was taken 
away, the clock room being allotted to them 
for their purpose; the old, useless chimney 
machinery being removed from this room, 
as also the old, and nearly equally useless, 
clock, which was in about the last stage of 
mechanical consumption. Another new and 
excellent clock has since taken its place, as it 
was necessary to provide a first-rate time- 
keeper, in a town which is almost proverbial 
for variations in time between the public 
clocks it already possesses Amongt other 
improvements to the tower we may mention 
that of the cleansing of the interior face of 
the walls from the whitewash and dirt which 
thickly coated it. 

The interior of the tower walls is the only 
portion of the whole Church which is clear 
of plaster, being constructed of large courses 
of squared masonry, which greatly adds to 
its strong and massive appearance. Nearly 
the whole of the monumental tablets which 
disfigured the nave walls were removed (with 
approval), and fixed against the tower walls: 
perhaps the best position that could be 
chosen for the purpose, although some of the 
inscriptions, on account of the change of 
situation, read rather inconsistently. 

A new bell frame being greatly needed, 
some of the timbers having in parts decayed 
almost through their substance, the bells 
were removed from their places till the com- 
pletion of a new frame. The great difficulty 
experienced in obtaining English oak for 
this purpose, will explain the delay which 
arose before the bells were again rung T he 
bell-frame has been raised a few feet above 
its former level, in order to allow of the 
proper length of rope required by the ringers : 
no deterioration in the sound is, however, 
perceptible through this. 

The vacant space to the west of the old 
pews of the nave, which formerly served as 
a kind of ante-chapel, and was in fact almost 



lost room, has been floored and furnished 
with low, open seats of deal, affording 
accommodation for about 2/0 worshippers. 
The west door communicates with these 
seats, through a door in a closed screen, 
which extends across the tower, and forms a 
lobby to the tower staircase. 

A new hot water heating apparatus was 
supplied by the Low Moor Company: the 
heat is distributed by flat D pipes, level with 
the aisles, and though the circuit is of great 
length, an agreeable temperature is main- 
tained, with remarkable efficiency even on 
the coldest winter's day. 

Arrangements with the pew-owners in the 
east gallery having been made, a faculty was 
obtained for its removal, it being certainly 
the greatest blemish in the whole Church. 
This having been accomplished, the chancel 
roof was taken under hand, the timbers, 
which had seemingly held fiequent acquaint- 
ance with the whitewasher, were divested of 
several successive coats; the intermediate 
spaces were boarded in deal, stained, and 
varnished 

Owing to some constructional failure, the 
hammer- beams in most cases have broken 
from the other portions, and the result is 
that with the heavy weight of the slate roof 
in pressing against them, the side walls, the 
south particularly, have been forced con- 
siderably from the perpendicular. It thus 
became necessary to rebuild the north and 
south pillar?, between the chancel and side- 
chapels. The east gallery being removed, 
the unsafe condition of the chancel arch • 
piers became apparent, and it was necessary 
to re-build these, together with one of the 
pillars on the north side of the nave, which 
it was found had been cut half-way through 
near the base, by some individual who con- 
sulted his increase of comfort more than his 
safety. The westernmost pillar of the south 
aisle had been so completely cut away in 
attaching mural tablets that fractures oc- 
curred whilst erecting the west gallery, and 
unless it had speedily been remedied, it is 
probable that a considerable portion of the 
south wall would have fallen. The founda- 
tion of the pillars, &c , appears to have been 
executed in a very careless manner, it seems 
singular that the rock should not have been 
reached, it being but a few feet below the 
surface of the ground. The numerous vaults 
with which the whole area of the Church ii 
honey- combed, however, would greatly tend 
to render the fabric still more unstable, and 
they occasioned much difficulty when shoring 
up the arches whilst the new work was in- 
serted. The chancel arch, which, through 
the failure of the piers, had assumed a not 

149 



ACCOUNT OF ALTERATIONS MADE IN ST PETER'S CHURCH. 



very graceful or symmetrical form, was al- 
tered piecemeal, and now presents if not a 
geometrically correct curve, at least a better 
form than before. We must mention that 
in removing the old foundation of the chancel 
piers, several portions of window jaumbs 
were discovered built amongst other materials. 
this would seem to favour the idea of a pre- 
existing Church. A small recess was exposed 
in the south pier, though its use was by no 
means apparent. Discoveries of another 
nature were also made, viz., the existence of 
a coloured decoration in various parts of the 
building. Over the chancel arch the remaii.s 
of a figure in coloured drapery, and an in- 
scription in black letter, were brought to 
luht, though so much were they obliterated 
that it was impossible to decypher anything. 
Such being the case it was considered ad- 
visable to cover them up again. On several 
of the nave caps also, a pattern in dark red 
colour, of very straggling and indefinite form, 
was found •, some of the Church arch-stones 
were also covered with a succession of small 
rod crosses. These remains are interesting, 
if only in partially showing to what extent 
colour was made use of in mediaeval days; 
we trust that the practice of this kind of 
decoration, which was then the almost inva- 
riable rule, may not remain an exception in 
our later times. 

The levels of the chancel floor have under- 
gone various modifications, in place of the 
former continuous slope, steps having been 
laid at convenient intervals, the gravestones 
which form the pavement being laid, as 
nearly as possible, in their original position. 
In removing the old pews in the chancel and 
elsewhere portions of an ancient oak screen 
and the upper portion of a standard to a stall 
de»k were found, having been cut and sawn 
so as to be of use in repairing the Church. 
From the appearance of these relics we may 
conclude that the workmanship must have 
been of very remote description. The 
chapels north and south of the chancel have 
been separated from the latter by new oak 
screens, the lower portion of which are closed 
panels, with open tracery and cresting of 
elaborate pattern in the upper part. The 
organ is placed in the western half of the 
Leventhorpe Chapel, and has been recon- 
structed with the addition of several new 
stops and movements, the bellows being 
worked by an hydraulic engine by means 
of the pressure of the town's water pipes ; 
perhaps the greatest achievement of the 
whole alterations is the removal of the choir 
from the west gallery to their proper location 
in the chancel ; oak stalls and desks, arranged 
longitudinally, with traceried panels and 
150 



carved finials, have been provided for the 
accommodation of choir and clergy. All 
who have had the pleasure of hearing the 
choir since their change of place will not 
fail to observe the striking advantage conse- 
quent thereon, which advantage, we think-, 
is fully appreciated by the choir themselves, 
who strive successfully to maintain the high 
character of the choral service. The chancel 
is illuminated by gas standards of polished 
brass, with numerous burners to each, two at 
either end of the stalls and two within the 
altar- rails, which when lit give a most brilli- 
ant effect to this part of the Church. The 
nave is lighted by brackets fixed to the 
pillars. 

The foregoing remarks penned by one of 
the architects* who designed the renovations 
in our Parish Church, may very properly be 
supplemented by the following reflections 
and observations, by the late Mr. John 
James, F.S A., on the same subject. 

In passing into the Church, through the 
great South portal, one is struck with the 
wonderful transformation which has been 
effected, developing, in a large measure, the 
august proportions of the original interior. 
The exceedingly fine oak roof, one of the 
finest specimens in Yorkshire, hidden befoie 
by an ugly plaster ceiling, is now thrown 
open and restored. The unsightly east gal- 
lery has been entirely removed, the chancel 
arch cleared of its excrescences, and restored 
and ornamented, thus exhibiting the whole 
of the chancel and east window. A hand- 
some carved pulpit, placed more in the 
middle of the nave, has been substituted for 
the former plain one. But the most im- 
portant improvement consists in setting back 
to the tower arch the west gallery, thereby 
adding two bays each to the north and south 
galleries; and in appropriating to the nave, 
the floor of the tower, and the large space 
formerly excluded from the Church, known 
as the vestibule or baptistry .f 1 hese por- 
tions, greatly enlarging the nave, have been 
fitted with suitable seats, and the ringing 
chamber having been constructed higher in 
the tower, the grand west window ha9 been 
exposed, and affords abundant light to that 
quarter of the edifice. The stone work of 
the inner face of the lower walls of the tower 
has been dressed, and around it are placed 



• Messrs. Mallinson and Healey, of Brad- 
ford. 

t The font, with its quaint canopy of 
fretwork, has been removed from its position 
there, unto the lower end of the former nave. 



ACCOUNT OF ALTERATIONS MADE IN ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 



the mural monuments, removed from various 
parts of the Church ; their removal is to be 
deplored, but could not be avoided. 

Returning to the chancel — purchased from 
the Ladies of the Manor, at a cost of £200* 
—the roof has been thrown open and re- 
stored ; the floor having been lowered, the 
altar is approached from the nave by an easy 
gradation of steps. On each side of the 
chancel are rows of appropriate oak stalls 
for the choristers. The organ, t handsomely 
re-cased, and its power and tone increased, 
has been placed in the Leventhorp Chapel, 
on the north side of the chancel. This 
chapel, and that of Boiling, on the opposite 
side, have been furnished with a screen of 
open tracery work, separating .them, as in 
former days, from the chancel. Whilst in- 
serting the new east window, hereafter de- 
scribed, and renovating the south wall of the 
chancel, an ancient piscina was found in the 
wall, where it, no doubt, had remained con- 
cealed since the days of the Reformation. It 
is of rude construction, and seems to have been 
defaced by some of our Puritan forefathers. 

After re-seating the pew-owners of the east 
gallery, 350 additional sittings have been 
gained from these improvements, so that the 
Church is now capable of accommodating 
1,580 hearers. Besides, it has been rendered 
more comfortable by a better system of ven- 
tilation, the construction of a thoroughly 
efficient heating apparatus, and by lighting 
the edifice throughout in a style consistent 
with its architecture. The bells have been 
re- hung, at a cost of £250. 

Extensive as these alterations and ad- 
ditions appear, the work has been executed 
in a mos-t economical manner, — the total 
cost amounting only to the sum of about 
.£4,300. Towards this outlay, the congre- 
gation, aided by a few friends, supplied, at 
one offertory, the handsome sum of £1,056. 
Since then, the total sum expended has been 
raised by other contributions, and there 
remains a considerable sum available for 
further improvements. 

Another great addition to the appearance 
of the chancel, results from the insertion of 
the new east window, presented by Mrs. 
Tolson, in memory of her late husband, 
Richard Tolson, Esq., of Bolton House, a 
gentleman esteemed by all who knew him, 
for^his rare ability and kindness of disposition. 
The memorial is a magnificent specimen of 
stained glass, executed by the celebrated 

* One would have thought that the burden 
of repairing would have rendered them eager 
to be rid of it. 

t Removed from the west gallery. 



firm of Morris, Marshall, Falkener and Co., 
Red Lion Square, London. The tracery of 
the old window being narrow and unsuitable 
for giving effect to figures in stained glass, 
the frame-work of a new window in the 
same style, the perpendicular, was substituted, 
containing a large central light in each of 
the two lower tiers, and three lights on each 
6ide of the central light. 

In the lowest tier, St. Peter, the patron of 
the Church, occupies the centre, and, reading 
from the left to the right, are, on each side 
of him, the figures of six of the great 
prophets, who foretold the coming of the 
Messiah: — Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 
Daniel, and Elijah; and above these are 
configurations of six of his greatest ances- 
tors: — Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, So- 
lomon, and Joseph. In the centre of the 
next tier, the middle of the window, stands 
the glorified Saviour, supported by angels , 
and on each side are arranged six of his most 
distinguished ministers on earth : — John the 
Baptist, the evangelists Matthew, Mark, 
Luke, and John, and St. Paul. Above these, 
again, appear the six women, who figure so 
conspicuously in the Gospels: — Anna, the 
prophetess; Elizabeth, with the infant Bap- 
tist by her side; the Virgin; Mary Magda- 
lene, in the act of throwing from her the 
wreath of worldly vanity whilst holding in 
her left hand the alabaster box of precious 
ointment; and the sisters of Bethany, Mar- 
tha and Mary. The large figure of the 
Saviour is, both in beauty of design and 
colour, a choice specimen of art. 

Most happily blended are both the designs 
and colours. The prophet Ezekiel, in brown 
and blue colours, is a model of skill. All 
glaring sensational tints, so prevalent in 
stained glass, have been avoided, so that 
while the colours are chaste, admitting of no 
strong contrasts, they seem to glide into each 
other, and constitute one harmonious picture. 
The figures, well defined and graceful in atti- 
tude, are from original drawings, by artists 
of talent and position, made expressly for 
this window, and the colouring carried out 
under their own supervision. A more happily 
designed, and beautifully executed, modern 
work of its kind is rarely seen. Mr, Ruskin, 
the eminent art-critic, when lately at Brad- 
ford, gave it his meed of praise, though no 
admirer of this class of art as now practised. 
The great western window has also been 
beautified at the expense of Mr. Wells, 
solicitor, Bradford, as a memorial to his 
deceased sisters. Five passages from the life 
of Christ are represented in stained glass, 
and improve the appearance of that part of 
the Church. 

151 



CLOSE CATALOGUE OF THE VICAR- OF BRADFORD. 



TIME OP IN- 
STITUTION. 



VICARS. 



J 293 Richard de Halton, Presbyter 

Richard de Irby 
1309 Richard de Eure, Pbr. 

1327 Robert Moryn, Chaplain { 

1328 Robert de Byngham, Pbr. 
1331 William de Preston, Chaplain 
1335 Henry de Latrynton, Chaplain 
1337 Geoffry de Langton, Pbr. 
1348 Adam de Lymbergh, Pbr. 

Richard de Wilsden, Pbr. 
1364 William Frankelayn 

1369 William de Norton, Pbr. 

1370 William del Cotes, Pbr. 
1374 Stephen de Eccleshill, Pbr. 

William 



TATRONS. 


HOW 
VACATED. 


Robert Rector with the assenti 
of Alice de Lacy > 
Same 
Same 


Resigned 


Robert Son of Reginald de^ 

Baldock Rector > 

Same 


Resigned 
Same 



Same Robert 

Same 

Same 

William de Mirfield 
Same 
Same 
Same 



1401 William Rodes, Pbr. 



Thomas Banke, Pbr. 

1432 Dyonis Gellys, Pbr. 
1464 Henry Gellys, Pbr. 
147v3 John Webbester, Pbr. 
Richard Strateburell 

1503 { M ^ Gilb p ert Bt VS amW ' DeCr "l Same 

\ B. or Beaconhill i 

1537 Wm. More (Bp» of Colchester?) John, Bishop of Lincoln 



William de Wynceby 
Dean and Canons of the Col-j 
lege of Leicester 

Same 

Same 

Same 

Same 



1541 William Weston, S.T.P. 
1556 Thomas Okden, Clerk 
1563 Laurence Taylor, Clerk 
1568 Christopher Taylor, Clerk 
1595 Caleb Kempe, CI., S.T.B. 

1614 Richard Lister, Clerk, A.M. 

1615 John Oakel, AM. 

1639 John Kempe, Clerk 

1640 Edward Hudson, Clerk 
1642-3 Francis Corker, Clerk 

(During the Civil Wars. — Mr. Blazet, Ordained Minister. \ 
t Jonas Waterhouse, M.A., Minister.) 

Then Francis Corker, until his death. 
Abm. Brooksbank, Clerk, A.M. Mary Maynard, Jonas Waterhouse 



Assigns of the Col. of Leicester 
Other Assigns 

Queen Elizabeth 

Same 
Archbishop of York 
Francis Morrie and Francis Phillip 
Charles the First 
Same 



1667 

1677 Francis Pemberton 

1698 Benjamin Baron, 

1706 Bradgate Ferrand 

1710 Thomas Clapham 

1720 Benjamin Kennet, A.M. 

1752 John Sykes, A.M. 

1784 John Crosse, A.M. 

1816 "Henry Heap, B.D. 

1839 William Scoresby, D.D. 
John Burnet, L.L.D. 



Buller and Wife 

Archbishop of York, by lapse 

Buller 

Francis Buller 
Joseph and Jane Sykes 
Hammond Crosse, Esq. 
Daniel Sykes and others 
Trustees of Mr. Simeon 
Same 



Same 
Same 
Same 
Same 
Same 
By death 
Resume- 1 



Resigned 
Resigned 

Same 

Resigned 

By death 
Same 
Same 

Same 



Resigned 
By death 

Same 

Same 

Same 
Resigned 
By death 

Same 

Same 

Same 



By death 

Resigned 

By death 

Same 

Same 

Same 

Same 

Same 

Same 

Resigned 



152 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, 
BRADFORD. 

u Lives of great men all remind us, 
We may make our lives sublime, 

And when dying leave behind us 
Footprints on the sands of time." 

Peuhaps not more than one in ten 
thousand, of those who visit our old and 
venerable Parish Church, will ever think of 
the centuries gone by, in which rector after 
rector, and vicar after vicar have officiated 
on the spot, now sacred from long usage; 
and who having ended their labours have 
passed away into the spiritual world, to dwell 
with the Jesus whom some of them lovedso 
well. When our Bradford was but a village, 
these holy men were wont to go about their 
Master's business, cheering the downcast, 
encouraging the strong, consoling the sick, 
and smoothing the hard pillow of the dying. 
They blessed the mother on the birth of her 
child, and took it in baptism into the christian 
church. They married the young men and 
maidens, and buried the dead around that 
venerable pile, until the ground beneath is 
in our day a mound of human remains, 
numbering its tens of thousands, no doubt, 
whose bones have literally returned unto 
dust. There rest now, the pastors and the 
flocks of the last six hundred years ; and so 
it will ever be, until " time shall be no more'' 
with all now living. What matters now, 
whether these men were sandalled monks, 
close shaven priests of the "Mother Church,'' 
or staunch protestants of the "Puritan school." 
They all fulfilled the mission of their day, 
were lights in their time, and if they were 
good men, their spirits dwell with the ever 
adoreable Redeemer. 

But little, comparatively, is known of the 
early vicars of tis parish. Mr. James says 
that for sixty years after the Scottish incur- 
sion immediately subsequent to the battle 
of Bannockburn, the vicarage was of so 
small a value, that eight of the first vicars 
resigned. William de Mirfield (about 1364) 
was a very liberal rector, and allowed the 
vicars presented by him, to receive the rents 
of his lands at Shelf.* 

* William de Mirfield, parson of the church 



Ir. the list of tenants appended to the 
survey or extent of 1342, of the manor of 
Bradford, made during the time it was in the 
possession of Henry Duke of Lancaster, as 
before fully mentioned, there are the following 
entries: — 

William Dewsbury, capelan', tenet tertiam 
part' unius Burg'. 

Adam Boiling, capelan', tenet two Burgh'. 
It is almost certain that these chaplains were 
engaged in the service of Bradford church, 
or of some chapel in the town. 

Two of the earlier vicars, Wilsden and 
Eccleshill, were very probably natives of the 
parish, as in the times in which they lived, 
local surnames were a pretty sure index of 
residence. 

William Rodes. 

The first vicar of whom we have any 
details, is Wm. Rodes, presented, in 1401, 
by the then rector, Wm. Wynceby. Vicar 
Rodes may safely be traced to the ancient 
family of that name, in the parish of Halifax. 
He appears to have been both a rich and a 
liberal man. His will, printed below, con- 
tains many interesting particulars which will 
excite attention. There were in the time of 
Rodes two chaplains and two parish clerks to 
assist in the services. And there appears to 
be evidence in this will to prove that the 
building of the present church had been 
commenced in his time. This will, translated, 
runs thus : — 

In the name of God, Amen. — On the 
feast of the beheading of St. John the Baptist, 
A.D. 1435, I, William Rodes, late Vicar of 
the Parish Church of St. Peter, Bradford, 
being of sound mind, make my will in this 
manner: — First, I give my soul to Almighty 
God, the blessed Mary, and all the Saints, 
and my body to be buried in the chancel of 
the Church of St. Peter, at Bradford. Item. 
I give, in the name of mortuary, the best of 
my goods of the year. Item. To Henry 
Wright, chaplain, 20s , and Thomas Hodgson, 
chaplain, 6s. 8d. I give to William, chief 
parish clerk, 12d., and to William Northrop, 
minor parish clerk, 12d. I give to the fabric 
of the Mother Church of St. Peter, York, 
6s. 8d. To the Friars of the order of the 



of Bradford, on the death of William de 
Cotes, vicar, was found by inquisition post 
mortem, to be the owner of one hundred 
shillings yearly issuing out of land at Shelf, 
which had been received by the said Cotes. 
Cal. Inq. post mort., vol. 2, p. 329. 

153 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



Holy Trinity, Knaresborough, 40d. To the 
Friars minors of Doncaster, 12d. To the 
Dominican Friars of Pontefract, 12d. To 
the Friars of the order of Saint Augustine, 
Tykhill, 12d. To the Carmelite Friars of 
York, 12d. I give to Matilda and Eliste, 
my sisters, each 6s. 8d. I give to the fabric 
of the new work of the blessed Mary, in the 
Church of Bradford, 40s. The rest of my 
goods I give to my executors, to be disposed 
of by them for the health of my soul ; and 
I constitute the said Thomas Hodgson, 
Henry Wright, William Northrop, clerk, 
and William Thornton, of Horton, executors 
of my will. In testimony whereof I have 
hereunto set my seal. These being witnesses 
— Wm. Thornton, Senr., of Chellawe, John 
Walker, Junr., Thomas Wryghte, Senr., and 
others. Dated at Bradford the day and year 
aforesaid. I bequeath to Dom. William 
Scoles, chaplain, six of my best silver cups, 
a cloak of wool with fur, and all my books. 
— Proved 7th January, 1435. 

It might safely be presumed that this vicar 
was a learned man, and a person of some 
note in his day, for it was very uncommon to 
be possessed of books at this period. 

Thomas Bank, or Banke, 

Was presented to the vicarage by the 
College of Leicester, and he was succeeded 
by 

Dionisius Gelles. 

There is this entry of his institution in the 
York Register:— "January, 1432.— Dioni- 
sius Gelles, on the death of Thomas Bank ;" 
and, in August 1464, there is also an entry 
of the institution of Henry Gelles, on the 
resignation of Dionisius Gelles. On the 
26th June, 1466, administration was granted 
of the goods of the latter, who had died 
intestate, to the former, no doubt his nephew. 
Henry Gelles died in 1476. The following 
is a translated copy of his will, dated 27th 
May, 1475 :— 

In the name of God, Amen, — I, Henry 
Gelles, M.A., Vicar of the Parish Church of 
Bradford, being of whole mind and sound 
memory, make my testament in this manner : 
— Imprimis, I bequeath my Soul to Al- 
mighty God, the blessed Mary his mother, 
and all Saints, and my body to be buried in 
the chancel of the aforesaid Church. Item. 
I give my best good9 of the year by way of 
mortuary. Item. I give, to Ornament the 
outside of the high altar, and around the 
holy sacrament, 10s. The residue of my 
154 



goods, after paying my debts, etc., I bequeath 
to John Thornton, Son-in-law of my brother, 
Wm. Gelles, which John, I constitute my 
executor, and Thomas Gelles, son of my 
aforesaid brother, William Gelles, and my 
said brother, supervisors. Witnesses to the 
Will — John Althwyk, parochial chaplain, 
Thomas Gelles, Thomas Forster, and others. 
—Proved 10th April, 1476,byJohn Thornton. 

The remains of the two last named vicars 
lie in the chancel of the church, if they have 
not been disturbed by the many alterations 
to which it has been subjected during the 
last four hundred years. Of John Wkbbb- 
ster, Richard Stratesbuell, and Mr. 
Gilbert Beaconshaw, or Beaconhill, no- 
thing has been ascertained by our indefa- 
tigable historian the late Mr. James. 

William More. 

William More, B.D., vicar in the time of 
Henry VIII., was, on the 20th October,, 
1536, consecrated in the Dominican Church 
of Colchester, Suffragan Bishop of Colchester, 
and in a few months afterwards, obtained the 
vicarage of Bradford. Whilst writing page 
211 of the History of Bradford, it did not 
occur to me that he might be merely a 
suffragan. In a letter from Dr. Pegge to 
Dr. Ducarel, in 6th vol. of the Antiq. 
Biblioth., it is stated that before the Reforma- 
tion there were in England, Bishops in, 
partibus, that is taking their designation from 
places abroad ; but by an Act of Parliament, 
passed in the twenty- sixth year of Henry 
VIII., it was declared that Bishops should 
not take their titles from foreign parts; and 
twenty-six towns in England, of which Col- 
chester was one, were appointed to give titles 
to these extraordinary Bishops. These 
suffragans were men of great figure and 
consequence in their day, and were appointed 
to assist infirm bishops. Anthony Wood, in 
the •'Athense Oxoniensis" (London, 1721), 
vol. 1, page 674, gives this account of More : 
— "William Moore had part of his education 
among the Oxonians, but more in another 
university, and was afterwards vicar of 
Walden, in Essex, and Suffragan Bishop of 
Colchester. In 1537 he was made prebendar}* 
of Gevendale, in the Church of York, but 
resigned it the year after, and on the 14th 
September, 1539, he was installed Archdeacon 
of Leicester, in the room of Edmund Bonner 
[bloody Bonner], promoted to the See of 
Hereford. He (More) dyed in the summer 
time in 1540." From the "Notes and 
Queries," second series, No. 27, it appears he 
was Abbot of the Monastery of Walden, a 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD, 



great pluralist, and a master in Chancery to 
boot. It is not improbable that the only 
time his voice was heard in Bradford, during 
the three years he held the living, would be 
on his induction to the benefice. He was 
the last of what, I am afraid, were a worth- 
less tribe presented to it by, or through 
means of, the College of Newark In 
Nichol's History of Leicestershire (vol. 1, 
part 2, p. 231), it is mentioned that the pre- 
ferments of this College " seem in general to 
have been bestowed on persons of fashion." 

The two succeeding vicars, Weston and 
Ogden, held the living during the transition 
period of Protestantism, and a difficult task 
they would have to perform. The former 
might be one of the family of Weston, in 
Wharfedale. Ogden, very likely, sprung 
from the family of that name located in the 
parish of Halifax. He was presented to the 
vicarage by William Ranold, who had ob- 
tained the right on the dissolution of the 
College of Leicester. 

Lawrence Taylor, 
there is reason to believe, sprung from Brad- 
ford, or its neighbourhood. Christopher 
Taylor most likely was his son. We have 
some information respecting him in his will, 
printed below. It will be observed that in 
the form of bequeathing his soul, there is a 
remnant of the old superstition. He appears 
to have had considerable estates in Bradford 
and Horton. It will be seen that Randall 
Well Close, devised to his daughter Mary, 
afterwards came into the possession of James 
Sagar : — 

Will of Christopher Tailer, vicar of Brad- 
ford, dated 7th September, 1596 — Bequeaths 
his soul into the hands of Almighty God, 
and his body to be buried in the Churchyard 
of Bradfurth. He gives all his lands at 
Bradford and Horton to Alice, his wife, 
during her life, and then to Nathaniel Tailer, 
his son ; also to have his copyhold close, 
called Stone Close. To his daughter Mary 
he gives Randali Well Close, in Horton. 
To his daughter Hester, a messuage, garden, 
and close in Bradford ; also a cottage, a gar- 
den, and little croft, adjoining the vicarage of 
Bradford, to his daughter Alice. He gives 
two-thirds of his books to his son Nathaniel, 
at the discretion of Mr. Edward Maude and 
Robert More, clerk ; the other, third to his 
daughters Maria and Alice. To Joseph 
Haworth, his curate £5 ; to John Bakes, his 
man, 10s., or an English bible-, to Ann 
Garforth, 1 2d. The residue of his goods and 
chattels he gives to Alice, his wife, whom 
he appoints the guardian of his two daughters, 
Alice and Hester; anri appoints Edward 
Maud and Robert More, clerk, executors ; 



and Henry Bannister, Richard Smith, Wil- 
liam Halstead, schoolmaster, Thomas Tailer, 
Thomas Ledgerd, Thomas Sharp, the elder, 
annd Thomas Sharp, the younger, super- 
visors. Witnesses— Edward Maud, William 
Halstead, Thomas Ledgerd, Thomas Tailer, 
Joseph Haworth, and Samuel Tailer. — 
Proved 31st March, 1598, by Mary Tailer, 
the daughter (Alice Tailer, the wife, being 
dead) before William Webster, Dean of 
Pontefract. 

Caleb Kemp. 
Caleb Kemp probably came from Sussex, 
at least the devise in his will points to that 
conclusion. He obtained the living from the 
Crown. The introduction to his will is of a 
Puritan stamp, and during near the score of 
years he occupied the pulpit, he most likely 
sowed that Puritan seed, the fruit of 
which was seen for many days. He does 
not appear to have studied at any College, as, 
in the list of vicars, he is merely entered as a 
professor of theology. He was buried at 
Bradford, according to the directions in his 
will, 28th Nov., 1614. The following is a 
copy of his will : — 

Will of Caleb Kemp, vicar of Bradford, 
dated 29th October, 1614.—" Caleb Kemp, 
a servant of Jesus Christ, in the preaching 
of the Word of God, and ministry of the 
gospel. Into thy hands, O God ! I commend 
my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me." He 
then directs that his body should be buried 
in a grave against the middle door of the 
chancel, near unto his mother and daughter. 
He directs that his copyhold land of Wellers, 
at Harringden, in the parish of Hothbie, in 
the county of Sussex, holden of the Manor 
of Plumpton Bussage, in the said county, 
should go according to the custom of the 
manor. He desires the Right Worshipful 
and his very good landlady, the Lady 
Charitie Haword, to extend herself in kind- 
ness in the fine to his child, to whom, by 
custom, it belonged to inherit, that is, to 
Caleb Kemp, his youngest son. He gives 
his copyhold land in Bradford, according to 
the custom, to his son, John Kemp ; also an 
acre of land held of the Manor of Green- 
wich. He gives to his wife the tuition and 
education of his two sons, and his daughter 
Susan, in the fear of the Lord. To his wife, 
Phoebe Kemp, the portion which the law 
allows her. To his daughter Mary, ^50 
(whereof £20 was committed to him by her 
grandmother, Agnes Kemp, in her lifetime), 
to be paid to her on her marriage or attaining 
twenty-one years of age. To his godson, 
Caleb Freckley, one Edward shilling, and to 
Phoebe Hemingway, of Owbrea [Horbury], 

155 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



a crown of gold. He appointed his wife 
executrix ; and his three brethren, John and 
Samuel Lister, and John Whitley, super- 
visors, and gives to each of them an angel of 
gold. Witnesses — John Lister and William 
A ked.— Proved 26th April, 1615, before the 
Dean of Pontefract, by his executrix. 

These Listers, of the family at Little 
Horton, were his brothers-in-law, he having 
married their sister. 

Richard Lister, the succeeding vicar, may 
have been one of the nephews of vicar 
Kemp. 

John Okell. 
From what quarter John Okell sprung, 
cannot be determined. As the name is one 
not occuring in this neighbourhood, he most 
likely was a stranger in these parts. Francis 
Morrie and Francis Philip, who, I believe, 
were trustees or purchasers of the Corporation 
of London, presented him, by purchase, to 
the living. Okell seems to have been a man 
much engaged in the secular affairs of the 
town. To him and three others, the manor 
and appurtenant estates were conveyed, in 
1G29, by the Corporation of London, in trust 
for sale. These trustees enfranchised large 
tracts of copyhold lands in Manningham. 
From his will he appears to have died pos- 
sessed of a considerable estate for that period. 
He was most likely a bachelor. The Church 
Register records his burial in the Church on 
the 2nd July, 1639 :— 

Will of John Okell, vicar of Bradford, 
dated the 13th September, 1636.— Whereby, 
after stating that he was in good and perfect 
health, and that his will was written with his 
own hand, he recites that he had by a deed, 
dated 7th August, 1633, granted to Robert 
Horn, of Bradford, and James Sagar, of 
Allerton, his real estate, in Bradford and 
Manningham, to the use of himself for life, 
and then for such uses as he should by will 
appoint; he appointed same to the use of 
John Smith, of Bradford, linen draper, and 
Thomas Croft, of Bradford, mercer; upon 
trust to pay ^£700 to his brothers, Peter 
Okell, Geo. Okell, and Thos. Okell, and 
three sisters, Margaret, the wife of Robert 
Jackson, Ellen, late wife of Thomas Merrie, 
and Frances, late wife Thomas of Venables, 
such sum to be paid in two years, equally 
among them; save only that the £1 16 10s. 
4d. given to his brother, George Okell, 
should remain in the hands of his brothers, 
Peter Okell, and Thomas Okell, and Robert 
Jackson, upon their entering into security for 
it to George Okell, to pay him £9 yearly 
during the term of his life. On his (George's) 
decease, £40 thereof to go to two of the 

156 



youngest children of John Newall, to whom 
Testator was great uncle; d£10 to his sister 
Isabell's daughter; and the remainder of the 
dill 6 10s. 4d. to two of the youngest 
children of his brother Peter, and Robert 
Jackson equally. He also directed that the 
share of his sister Frances should remain in 
the hands of his brothers Peter, George, 
Thomas, and Robert Jackson, they paying 
her therefore £9 yearly ; and after her de- 
cease, .£20 to go to her son, and £40 to her 
daughter, and the remainder to the children 
of his brothers Peter, Thomas, and Robert 
Jackson. Testator's sistor, Ellen, to have 
the profit of her share dnring life, and after 
her death, her eldest son to have .£10, and 
each of her two daughters £10, the remainder 
to be divided among the younger children of 
Newall. He gave ^£40 to John Jackson son 
of his brother -in -law Robert Jackson. He 
mentions a deceased sister, Elizabeth Lenton. 
To Susan Waddington, if living at his de- 
cease, 5 marks. To the poor of Bradford, 
20 marks, to be paid at his funeral. To 
Martha Booth, 5 marks. To Judith White- 
head, his servant, 5 marks. Appointed his 
brothers Peter, George, Thomas, and Robert 
Jackson, executors, who proved the will on 
the 6th July, 1639. 

It is evident that this vicar died a rich 
man, for the sums he bequeathed represented 
a large amount at that period. 

During the time of Mr. Okell"s vicariate, 
it seems there were two ministers, himself 
and an under-minister. Okell, like his pre- 
decessors, was of the Puritan school, and 
suffered some irregularities in the services of 
the church. 

John Kemp. 

John Kemp, who succeeded Mr. Okell, 
was the eldest son of Caleb Kemp, the 
former vicar, and appears to have been a 
minor at his father's death. He held the 
vicarage only about a year. By his will, 
dated 9th May, 1640, (in which he is de- 
scribed as John Kemp, of Bradford, clerk) 
he gives unto his sister Mary £20 ; to his 
uncle, John Lister, and Barbara, his wife, 
40s.; to "John Whitley, and my aunt, his 
wife," 40s.; to his aunt Susan, 20s.; to his 
cousin Joseph Lister, of Horton, 20s. ; to 
Mr. Okell, 20s.; Martha Booth, 10s.; Ri- 
chard Horner, 40s.; to his father William 
Cooke, and Thomas Lister, of Shibden Hall, 
and John Lister, of Overbeare, his cousins, 
all the residue of his estate. Executors — 
the said William Cooke, Thomas Lister, and 
John Lister. Witnesses to the will — John 
Lister, Richard Home, Joseph Lister, and 
William Brooksbank.— Proved 3 1st July 
1641. 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



Considerable difficulty arises in ascertain- 
ing who were the vicars during the Civil 
War and Interregnum. At that time, Ed- 
ward Hudson, who had been presented by 
the Crown, was the vicar. It does not 
appear that he had offended the parishioners, 
but the underminister had, in making the 
sign of the cross at baptism. There are no 
data from which it can be gathered when 
Hudson vacated the living, and whether by 
death or compulsion. 

Francis Corker. 

On the death of Edward Hudson, clerk, 
King Charles the first, sold the rectory, as 
well as the manor of Bradford, to the citizens 
of London, who disposed of it to the famous 
Sir Hugh Middieton,and he sold it to Mary, 
the wife of Sir John Maynard, of Footing, 
Knight, Keeper of the great Seal to Charles 
I., who during the Protectorate, was absolute 
owner of it in the right of his wife.* King 
Charles 1st, previous to doing this had pre- 
sented one Francis Corker, to the living ; 
probably about the year 1643, when the 
civil wars were raging in Bradford and the 
neighbourhood. The Rev. Francis Corker 
was a royalist, and for this reason seems not 
to have been accepted by the parishioners in 
Bradford, or it may have been because he 
was a Roman Catholic. Hudson, the previous 
vicar, evidently had an under-minister who 
had also rendered himself obnoxious to his 
puritan hearers; for I find by a letter of one 
Thomas Stockdale, a Yorkshire magistrate, 
who subsequently represented Knaresborough 
in Parliament, addressed to Lord Fairfax, at 
his lodgings, King- street, Westminster; that 
there was some trouble in our Parish church, 
respecting the popish rites practised there. 
The letter is dated 11th March, 1641. (N .S 
1642.) and goes on to say — that — " The 
Protestation is, for the most part, taken 
through all Yorkshire. God grant that it 
may be as well observed ! I am sure you 
hear how they challenge the under-minister 
at Bradford to have violated it, because he 
useth the sign of the cross at baptism, though 
it be yet established by the law of the land ; 
but there the people dislike the minister. 
And lately, the churchwardens have with 
strong hand kept him out of the reading-pew 
and pulpit, and will suffer him neither to 
preach nor pray, but put others to officiate 
in his place ; but of that matter I assure my- 
self you have more particular relation from 



* Continuation to the History of Bradford, 
by Mr John James. See page 148. 



thence." The Fairfax Correspondence, vol. 
1. page 381. This under-minister may or 
may not have been the Rev. Francis Corker. 
It is however very probable that it was, for in 
the correspondence published hereafter, he 
writes of Bradford as " a place verry full and 
popolous, soe verry factious and seditiory, 
yet I prevailed with the best part of them 
(although not the greatest) to hold fast their 
Allegiance." As Bradford was in the hands 
of the Parliamentarians, and was then held 
by the forces of General Fairfax, or those of 
General Lambert, he must surely have used 
his influence some time before the town was 
thus occupied, as it would have been perilous 
for him to do so when they held the town. 

When Mr. James wrote his History of 
Bradford he did not include Mr. Corker 
among the list of vicars, as he had not suffi- 
cient evidence to warrant his doing this. 
Since that time however some valuable cor- 
respondence has been published by Mr. 
Francis A, Leyland, the antiquary, of Halifax, 
which entirely settles the question. The 
original letters are now in his possession, and 
I take the liberty of reproducing them here, 
together with the introductory remarks of 
Mr. Leyland. 

"In the year 1640 Edward Hudson, clerk, 
was presented to the living by King Charles 
the 1st; and, according to the list of the 
vicars of Bradford given by Whitaker (Loidis 
p. 359) and James (History of Bradford, p. 
209), the next Induction, which was that 
of Abraham Brooksbank, clerk, A.M., took 
place in the year, 1667. On these authorities 
a period of twenty-seven years is made to 
elapse, during which, no other vicar enjoyed 
the benefice; and the information hitherto 
published on the subject has left it to be 
inferred that Hudson filled the incumbency 
during this long and changeful period, till 
within a few months of the presentation of 
Brooksbank. The following documents, 
however, now published for the first time, 
show that Hudson's occupancy of the vicarage 
was of short duration, and that the sovereign 
who had presented him to the living provided 
a successor to him on his death, in the person 
of the Rev. Francis Corker. This appoint- 
ment appears to have been made about the 
year 1643, but we learn incidentally that, 
owing to the troubles of the times and the 
hostility of Bradford to the royal cause, his 
presentation was little more than nominal ; 
for, that, unable to preserve the allegiance of 
his parishioners to the King, he and the few 
whom he had been able to influence, being 
overwhelmed by numbers, were compelled to 
seek refuge in the King's garrisons, or pro- 
tection from the royal army in the north. 

157 



VICARS OP THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



From other sources we find him afterwards 
occupied, in conjunction with Pickrin and 
Hirst, two clergymen, as one of the chaplains 
to Sir John Ramsden's division, in the gar- 
rison at Pontefract, during the prolonged 
seige of the castle. We learn also that on 
the garrison being reduced to the last ex- 
tremity, the vicar was despatched with an 
escort of sixteen men through the enemy's 
lines, to join Prince Rupert and to inform 
the King of the situation of the garrison. 
He alludes to the circumstance himself, in 
his appeal for mercy to the governor of the 
tower, and the service he rendered on the 
occasion is substantiated by contemporaneous 
history. We are informed that, in conse- 
quence of this order being successfully per- 
formed, relief was speedily effected by Sir 
Marmaduke Langdale, who with a consider- 
able force defeated Lambert, the commander 
of the assailants, and raised the seige of the 
castle. After this event, the vicar appears 
to have followed the varied fortunes of the 
King, to have acted as a guide and spy, and 
to have resigned for a season the clerical 
office for the profession of arms. He, indeed, 
informs us of the number of battles in which 
he fought; of his exploits and hairbreadth 
escapes ; his daring adventures and perilous 
commissions; until, if he had not told us 
himself that he was a vicar, we should have 
taken his narrative to be that of a Colonel 
Morrice or a Captain Flood. After the 
decisive battle of Marston Moor, the execu- 
tion of the King, and the prostration of the 
royal hopes, our vicar turned his thoughts 
towards Ireland, a country then distinguished 
for its loyalty to the crown, and one which 
held out a prospect of security from his 
enemies and compensation for the loss of his 
Bradford benefice. The first document is, 
indeed, a letter on his behalf, written by 
Charles the Second to the Marquiss of Or- 
mond, Governor-General of Ireland, re- 
questing the promotion of Corker either in 
the Establishment or the aimy. After 
passing through many dangers and trials, 
and at a period when the cause for which he 
had so frequently risked his life seemed hope- 
less, he became, however unwillingly, a sup- 
porter and servant of the Commonwealth. 
This tergiversation on the part of one who 
had made so many sacrifices for royalty, was 
regarded at the Restoration as a political 
offence of no ordinary magnitude, and he 
was speedily committed to the Tower. While 
suffering the penalty of his treason, he ap- 
pealed for deliverance from prison on the 
strength of his former allegiance ; and, it is 
to a petition written by him on that occasion 
that we owe the history of his adventures, 
158 



and the fact of his vicarial connection with 
Bradford. We are also informed that his 
last appeal was more fortunate than one he 
made on the 22nd March in the same year, 
to be set free under the Act of Indemnity; 
and that on his release from prison he re- 
turned to his benefice, which he enjoyed till 
his death in March, 1666."* 

u His Sacred Majestie King Charles thb 

Second upon tub Behalfk of Mr. 

Francis Corker. 

Charles R. 

" Right trustie and right enterely beloved 
Cozen wee greete you well. This bearer 
Francis Corker, clerke, havenge been in 
actuall service for us dureing all the late 
troubles in our kingdomes and both frequent 
and faithfull in his performances and good 
offices thereunto hath for that cause been 
deprived of his Ecclesiasticall means and for 
some time suffered in Prison. He is now 
going for Ireland and wee doe willingly give 
him these our letters, desiring that you will 
give him Countenance, and if it may be 
provide for him either by the way of some 
Church preferment or Condicion in the 
Armye wherein you will oblige an honest 
man and do* us much pleasure. 

M And soe wee bidd you very heartily fare- 
well. 

" Given at Buxells the sixth daye of July, 
and in ye first yeare of our raigne; One 
Thousand sixe hundreth forty nine, 16 19. 
"To our right trustie and right 

Entirely beloved James 

Marquess of Ormond our 

Governor Generall of 

Ireland. 
"Under the Privy Signett." 

Mr Corker to Sr. John Robinson, Lkif- 
tenant of the Tower being Prisoner 

THERE. 

Right honourable, — Although I can plead 
nothing as to my justification yet I suppose 
a true narrative of my condicion may move 
compassion in some though it deserve indig- 
nation from all. About the beginning of 
these unhappy times I was presented to the 
Vicaridge of Bradford in Yorkshire by his 
late Majestie of blessed Memorie, which as 
it was a place veny full and populous soe 
verry factious and seditiory yet I prevailed 
with the best part of them (although not the 
greatest) to hold fast their Allegiance, but at 
last being overpowered with number both 
they and I were inforced to betake ourselves 
to his Majesties Armye and garisons in the 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



North, wherein how I behaved my selfe I 
leave to the testimonie of my very Enemies. 
Yeet being put upon this Necessitye I be- 
lieve I may compare both my actings and 
sufferings with the most of my condicion in 
England. I have been in six or seven seve- 
rall battles besides many other skirmishes 
and partyes where I hazarded my selfe freely 
in his Majesties just quarrell. I tooke 
severall prisoners for whom were exchanged 
some considerable Officers belonging to his 
Majestie, as Colonell Gilby and others. I 
was sent from Pontefract Castle to Oxford, 
through the Parliaments Garrisons to procure 
relief for that place which was happily 
effected by Sr. Marmaduke Langdale. I 
was his Majesties chiefest guide in the North- 
erne Expedition and he would often call for 
me by the name of his honest guide, he would 
emploj'e me into his Enemies Armye to 
discover unto him their strength and posture. 

Wherein I soe well pleased him that he 
would say to me, " Well Corker, if it ever 
please God to restore me, thou shall be re- 
warden." And at that present in Newark 
he commanded his then Secretarie to give me 
an order for the apprehending any of my 
Parrishoners in Rebellion and detayn them 
Prisoners untill they had satisfy ed me 
the profitts of Benefice due to me. I received 
some wounds in his service the effects where- 
of I must carry to my grave. I have had 
two horses killed under me in fight, and how 
I have requited it let my actions to Crom- 
wells own Major Browne (which is sufficently 
known) and others testify for me. And that 
I intended well for his present Majestie lett 
this one action beare witness, I with two 
moore in my Company (one whereof is now 
in this Towne) when his Majestie came with 
his Scottish Armye to Worcester, that we 
might hinder the then present power of all 
intelligence, adventured to seize the post 
packett within ten miles of London, not 
without great danger, and if one private post 
had not accidentally passed us they in Lon- 
don could not have had any intelligence for 
some days. 

My sufferings have not been ordinary, for 
besides the losse of my Benefice since the 
beginning of the warr, my house hath been 
three, times plundered and all that I had 
takenf rom me. 1 was taken prisoner at 
Gainsbrough in Lincolnshire and sent to 
Lincoln gaole, from whence Lambert Com- 
mander then in Chiefe before Pontefract 
Castle sent a partye of horse for me to exe- 
cute me upon the same Gybbett with Mr. 
Beaumont but I unhappily made my escape 
the night before. I say unhappilie because 
if it had not soe fain out I had died in a 



good cause and with a better conscience. I 
from thence went into Holland, where when 
I had spent that little stock I had in the 
space of two yeares, I went with some others 
into the Isle of Sillye where I had subsistence 
one whole yeare under the honourable Sr. 
John Greenvile. From thence I went to 
sea and was there again taken by Deane and 
sent prisoner to Winchester Gaole where 
not darring to send by my own name to any 
friends I endured so hard an imprisonment 
for one whole yeare that I thought a bellye 
full of bread the greatest happiness in this 
world. From thence alsoe I made my escape 
and setled in Sussex where I was not knowne, 
to teach a poore schoole. 

Thus farr I kept my loyaltie and integritye 
perfect, but now begins my fearfull apostacye. 
About three years agoe comeing to London 
I was taken prisoner there the third time by 
one Jodd a soldier and a messenger of Crom- 
wells, and immediately carried before Thurloe 
who at first deeply threatned me, objecting 
to me many of my actions in his Majesties 
service and escapes, but at last came upon 
me with a promisse of securitye and reward 
if I would serve the present power, as I had 
done their enemies, to which through his 
cunning artifices and my own fears I un- 
happily and ungraciously condescended 
whereupon he appointed one Mr. Moreland 
(who is now my accuser) to conveigh to him 
my intelligence, who very well knowes that 
he and I did often agree that wee would 
never have an band in any mans blood. 
And that this is really true may appeare by 
these two instances. I was taken prisoner 
by an order from Calonell Goffe (he, not 
knowing what securitye I had) and itt hap- 
pened at the same time that Charles Davison 
(who then was newly escaped from Whitehall 
and in reall danger) was in bedd with me, 
yet I found means to procure his escape, and 
conveyed alsoe fower score poundes in gold 
from Mr. Berwick afterwards to him to help 
him awaye. Soe alsoe some two nights 
before Dr. Hewitts tryall Thurloe sent for 
me to know what partickuler testimonye I 
could give agaynst him. I answered him I 
had noe great acquaintance with him neither 
did I heare anything of him moore than his 
generall affection to the Kinges interest, that 
I had not been above twice or thrice in his 
companye, and nott at all above six moneths 
before, whereupon he turned from me in a 
furye and told me he would hereafter look 
upon me as one that still retayned my old 
principles. I believe Mr. Moreland can 
speake to both of these. 

I never betrayed above 5 persons (whereas 
(I might have betrayed five hundred all this 

159 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



time) three were rather by accident than 
will, and a fowerth I got off again myself 
pretending that if he were at Libertye I 
could gain much intelligence by him. And 
this I did alsoe for some other eminent 
persons whose faces I never saw, nor ever 
desired to see, for I purposly waved my 
acquaintance with the Cavalier party e that 
hearing little I could not be tempted to 
reveal much. 

Severall somes of money were conveyed 
through my hands for. the Kinges business 
as alsoe fower severall commissions sent by 
me into Shropshire none of which 1 ever 
betrayed or revealed. 

I heare I am accused for a conference 
with Mr. Stapeley, the trueth is I could 
not say much for our discourse was not 
much. I told Thurloe that I beleived the 
the Kinge would not trust him, for which I 
gave him two reasons both which I hinted 
to Mr. Stapeley at our Conference, and 
Mr. Stapeley may very wel remember that 
after yt, he came clerely off and soe noe 
doubt would have continued if there had 
not been some stronger informacions from 
other hands, for I never saw him after that 
time. 

God Almightye knowes, and Mr. More- 
land can partly testify with what remorse 
and rcgrett I acted my part in this sad 
tragedie. I after desired of Mr. Moreland 
often to be dismissed and suffered to live 
quietly in any comer but he alwaies told 
me that it was very dangerous to incense 
those that were in soe great power. I 
confesse sometimes I had strange and des- 
perate thoughts deviseing with my selfe 
which way I might redeem my great guilte, 
and when I heard of Mr. Gardiners plott 
against Cromwells person I was so far from 
revealing it that I wished rather to joyne 
with liim, and notwithstanding the host art 
I could use I never cold be once admitted 
to see the Protectors face. I received not 
much money part whereof I freely gaye 
and lent to those Cavaliers who were in 
distresse and captivitye. 

This is my true and sadd case and it is 
much the sadder because I have none to pitty 
me. These of the Kinges enemies against 
whom I acted so violentlye at first are gladd 
of my ruine, and all his friends whom I 
have so unworthily injured cannot but 
justly desire itt. Soe that I have no hope 
hut in the Mercie of his Majeatie that he 
may lookc with an eye of justice upon his 
fathers enemies, soe he will looke with an 
eye of compassion upon his faithful] servants 
of which number 1 was dureing his whole 
life as I can make it appear by many par- 
160 



tickulers and singular expressions. But if 
Almighty God have disposed otherwise, then 
I have nothinge left me to doe but to wash 
away my guilt with my teares and blood. 
All which I doe most humbly make bold 
to tender unto your Honor beseeching you 
would be pleased to take notice hereof, and 
impart the same unto his most sacred Ma- 
jestie prayeing daily for his most happy 
reigne and future prosperity, and alsoe for 
your honor being alwaies ready to submitt 
to what shall be further inflicted upon and 
enjoyned me, remaines 
Your honors most afflicted and disconsolate 
Beadsman 

FRAN. CORKER. 

From the Tower 10th of June 1660. 
To the honourable Sir John Robinson Knt 

and Barrt 

Leiftenant of ye Tower of London." 

Sir John Maynard being then in the 
service of the King, Charles 1st, was of 
course a royalist. He attempted on several 
occasions to present to the vicarage of Brad- 
ford, to collect the tithes, and settle the 
differences which for so many years troubled 
the inhabitants of Bradford. His agent here 
was Mr. John Sharp, of Little Horton, the 
Parliamentarian, who was receiver of the 
rents of the glebe lands and tithes^ Mr. 
James, in his Continuation to the History of 
Bradford, says " It appears from the Sharp's 
MS.S., that in January, 1649, there weic 
some law proceedings respecting them. Por- 
tions of the correspondence between Sir 
John and his Lady and Mr. Sharp, reveal 
many particulars respecting Bradford." The 
reader of the preceeding pages will under- 
stand why this was the case, and also that 
the rectory was in the possession of Sir 
Richard Tempest in 1607, having been 
aforetime leased to Dame Tempest at the 
rent of £50 a year. The following is the 
correspondence referred to, and given by Mr. 
James: — 

From Sir John Maynard to Mr. Sharp, 
dated 13th August, 1649:— 

He observes that the tenants (of glebe 
lands) complain that they had hard bargains 
from Sir Richard Tempest, but that he (Sir 
John) had offers to take the reversion, and 
that hay and corn were twice as dear as 
when Sir Richard let the land. He then 
states that land lias been ploughed up with- 
out his leave, and proceeds: — " I am no 
stranger to Bradford, and know that land is 
dearer there than where I live, by reason 
of your trading, which causes the place to 
be populous. Those that refuse to pay tithe 
must be sued. For Bowling, there is no 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



question, they must either pay or give tithe 
in kind, and I hope your kinsman, Captain 
Wilkinson, whom T assisted in his business 
for his arrears, will do me right in paying 
my tithe out of the sequestration of Mr. 
Tempest's demesnes, which I hear are as- 
signed to him for part of his arrears. Con- 
cerning the vicarage of Bradford, I pray 
agree among yourselves, as I would reserve 
my right to the presentation, and I wish to 
be careful to consult the parish ; so I advise 
you to agree in the choice of a minister. I 
have written to the town to satisfy Mr. 
Blease's importunity." 

The latter part of this letter is proof that 
there existed much disunion among the 
parishioners respecting the choice of a min- 
ister. 

Sir John Maynard to John Sharp, May 
2nd, 1649 : — 

I do wonder to hear of so many queries 
and exceptions as to whether the glebe lands 
shall abate on parts of them for taxes, or 
whether the glebe lands shall pay tithes in 
kind to me, as it did to Sir Richard Tem- 
pest. With your favour, these queries are 
not rational, and how could I make an an- 
swer, or promise to the tenants, except I 
understood the true state of things. I never 
made any promises, to the best of my re- 
membrance. If I did, they were supposi- 
tions, that Sir Richard Tempest did the 
like. I pray let the old tenants be preferred 
before others, so that I may have the same 
rates for my lands as others have of the same 
condition of soil; for I hear Sir Richard 
Tempest hath taken fines for new lands, 
reserving a small rent ; but that is no reason, 
after so long time the ground has been 
dressed and tilled, but that I should have 
my tithe in kind. I desire to do as I would 
be done uuto, and that things may be carried 
above board without fraud or covin. I will 
neither defraud r r be defrauded, as near as 
lean. Mr. Sharp, I do repose a trust in 
you. You are richer in reputation than 
fortune: and, thanks be to God, you area 
freeholder. 1 pray, concerning taxes, keep 
the general rule. I hope things will settle, 
and extraordinary taxes will fall, now that 
Pomfiet is reduced. I desire you would do 
for me as you do for yourself or friends 
Thus, with love remembered unto you, I rest 
your loving friend, — John Maynard. 

What was the issue of these dissensions 
does not clearly appear. In Sharp's MS S. 
it is stated that Mr. Blazet was presented to 

Holroyd's Collectanea, No. 11. 



the living by Sir John Maynard. The 
vicarage is me- tioned in the Parliamentary 
Survey of 1650, as vacant. It seems that 
Sir John stood in favour with the Republican 
powers, for, in 1650, the horse, and pay for 
the army, charged upon him in respect of 
the Rectory of Bradford, was ordered to be 
discharged. 

The next letter is one from Lady Maynard 
to John* Sharp, dated 24th August, 1658, 
wherein she informs him that her deceased 
husband had, by his will, appointed her his 
execu r rix, and left her the land and tithes 
of Bradford for her life, and then to her son, 
and requests Mr. Sharp to gather the rents 
and tithes for her, and that she would be 
glad to see him at Tooting, her residence ; 
also requests him to send her a "bill of ex» 
change for .£60. 

On the passing of the Act of Uniformity, 
the Rev. Jonas Waterhouse was vicar of 
Bradford, but hesitated to conform, and was 
therefore ejected ; and the vicarage was 
therefore then claimed by Mr. Cowker. or 
Corker. Lady Maynard, on the 29th Sep- 
tember, 1662, writes to Mr. Sharp, informing 
him that she had received two letters from 
Mr. Waterhouse— "By both of which, she 
remarks, " I find him unsatisfied to conform, 
which puts me to a stand what to do in the 
suit with Mr. Cowker, Mr. Allen, our 
counsel, being out of town. But Mr. Water- 
house writes in his last that Mr. Cowker 
had been with him and desired to come to 
some terms. I desire you will talk to Mr. i 
Waterhouse respecting putting the matter 
to the reference of two counsel, and take 
Mr. Weddell with you." [Mr. Weddell 
was probably a Bradford attorney.] 

To this letter, Mr. Sharp. replies that he 
had seen Mr. Waterhouse, who was much 
damped by her letter, recommending him to 
compromise the business with Cowker, as 
though she had deserted him ; and proceeds 
to speak in praise of Waterhouse, who had 
the good wishes of the parish, and had been 
put to great cost in the suit. As to his con- 
formity, he (Sharp) could never gain a defi- 
nite resolution from him, and he then con. 
eludes by stating that Waterhouse kept 
possession of the vicarage- house and croft. 

Again Lady Maynardwrites.cn the 5th 
September, 1663:— "So long as Mr. Water- 
house followed the suit of those who best 
understood it, I was willing to assist him, 
but he has given it over by reason, 1 suppose, 
of his Nonconformity. I have small en- 
couragement to meddle with it, for should I 
out Cowker, it would be impossible for me to 
present one that would please the parishion- 
ers and myself too. If you can lecommend 

161 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



to me an able minister, with Mr. Water- 
house's approbation, that will undertake the 
suit, and present at his own charge, I shall 
present him when time requires." 

The vicarage was, however, vacant in 
August, 1649, as Sir John Maynard, in a 
letter before printed, then wrote that he 
wished the inhabitants to agree among them- 
selves as to the choice of a minister, and 
says that he had written to the town to 
satisfy the importunity of Mr. Blease. 

Mr. Blazet. 

This Mr. Blease, or rather Blazet, the 
next vicar, filled, I think, the office of un- 
derminister of the Church, in the year 1 644 ; 
for it is recorded that Archbishop Sharp was 
baptized in that year by Mr. Blazet, a 
person Episcopally ordained ; and the Arch- 
bishop, in his MS.S., both states that he was 
baptised by him, and that he was vicar of 
Bradford. Mr. Blazet probably obtained 
the living soon after the date of Sir J. May- 
nard's letter. The vicarage was returned in 
1650 as vacaut, but that might be in the 
early part of the year. How long Mr. 
Blazet was vicar, has not been determined. 
As Mr. Waterhouse, his successor, is not 
described as minister in 1653, and is so de- 
scribed in 1657, Mr. Blazet appears, in some 
manner, to have vacated the living in that 
interval. Among the inhabitants of Brad- 
ford, in the early part of this century, there 
was one of the name of Blezard, probably 
of the family of this vicar. 

Jonas Waterhouse. 

Jonas Waterhouse, M.A., the successor of 
Mr. Blazet, sprung from a branch of the 
ancient family of the Waterhonses, of Hali- 
fax, which had settled at Tooting, in Surrey, 
where he was born. 

This was the Jonas Waterhouse men- 
tioned by Calamy, in his Nonconformists 
Memorial of Ejected Ministers, as having 
been ejected from the ministry at Bradford 
Church. After his ejectment he lived pri- 
vately and frequented the established wor- 
ship, but usually preached on the Lord's 
Day evenings in his house. Calamy says 
he was sometime fellow of St John's Col- 
lege, Cambridge, a learned man, a lover of 
peace, and greatly esteemed for his works' 
sake. 

Very probably he obtained this living 
owing to his family residing at the same 
place as the patron. The following facts, 
drawn from the parish Registers, throw some 
light on his history :— 1653, buried "Na- 

162 



thaniel, son of Jonas Waterhouse, Bradford " 
25th June, 1657, buried, " A child of Mr. 
Jonas Waterhouse, minister, at Bradford." 
1661, christened "Jonas son of Mr. Jonas 
Waterhouse, of Bradford, minister." Buried, 
January 21st, 1667, "Anna, wife of Mr. 
Jonas Waterhouse, of Bradford." These 
entries imply, as before remarked, that he 
was not minister in 1653, but had become so 
before 1657. He was ejected in 1662, and 
died at the age of ninety, in the year 1716, 
and was buried in the Church, where there 
was formerly a monument to him. It would 
appear that he was in some way implicated 
in the Farnley Wood plot; and from the 
purport of Lady Maynard's letters, before 
printed, it seems he held tenaciously to the 
vicarage of Bradford, and had some litigation 
respecting it. In the list of vicars, from the 
year 1615, contained in Archbishop Sharp's 
MS.S., his name is not included, and I think 
this omission must have arisen from his not 
being episcopally ordained, and therefore 
considered by the Archbishop not legiti- 
mately vicar. With the Sharps, of Little 
Horton, Nonconformists, and others of that 
class, he lived upon intimate terms. A copy 
of his will is subjoined: — 

Will of Jonas Waterhouse, of Bradford, 
clerk, dated 6th May, 1715.— Whereby, 
after stating that he was aged and infirm of 
body, he gives one half of a capital mes- 
suage, in Bradford, where he lived, and the 
lands to it in Bradford, called Upper Ing, 
Lower Croft adjoining the house, Crabtree 
Ing, Little Paddock, above it in the Cross^ 
land field, Gledstone close, Shepherd close, 
or Green Ing foot, Louver Broad Royd, 
Upper Broad Royd, with a little close, about 
three parts of a day's work, called Wheat 
close, the closes called the Bank adjoining 
the Cliffe, Pighill close, and Pease close, 
containing thirty-nine days' work, then in 
his (T(stator's) possession ; and also half of 
a messuage and land in Bradford, called 
Croft, adjoining the messuage, the Holme, 
the Carrin»s, or Undercliffe, containii _ 
venteen days' work, in the possession of 
Thomas Oakes, unto Charles Greenwood, his 
grandchild, for his life, with £b a year out 
of the other moiety ; and after the decease 
of said Charles Greenwood, to his (the Tes- 
tator's) grandchild, Joseph Bassnett, to whom 
also he devised the other of the said estates, 
and to the heirs of his body, and in default 
of issue, to the children of Hannah, late 
wife of John Underwood, of Dublin ; aud 
the children of '1 homas Webster, of Cam- 
bridge, her brother. He, the Testator, then 
gives a messuage, farm, garden, croft of 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



land, and closes, called Bolton banks, and 
Stanac;es, in Bradford, and also a close of 
land, called Mountain croft, to the said 
Charles Greenwood, and Josh. Bassnett, 
upon trust, to sell the same and pay the fol- 
lowing legacies : — To Mr. Atkins, of Market 
Harborough, ,£'40; Peter Shuter, of Har- 
borough, .£4:. To the daughter of his grand 
son, Thomas Webster, j£10. To Dorothy- 
Underwood, and Mary Underwood, his great 
grandchildren, ^£23. To John Lumme, if 
he should be living with Testator at his 
death, 40s. ; and to Mary Mitchell, 40s. To 
his poor apprentice, when he attained the 
age of twenty-one years, 40s. He gives all 
his books and MS.S. to his friends, Abraham 
Sharp, John Midgley, and Wm. Hodgson, 
and to Sharp and Midgley such books of his 
as they might have in their possession He 
mentions the will of Dorothy Bassnett, bis 
daughter, who had bequeathed to the said 
Charles Greenwood, .=£40. Charles Green- 
wood and Joseph Bassnett are appointed 
Executors ; and Elkanah Horton, John 
Midgley, and Abraham Sharp supervisors of 
his will. 

The real estate which he devised lay 
mostly in the neighbourhood of Barkerend, 
where it is probable he resided. Abraham 
Sharp and William Hodgson, to whom he 
bequeaths books, were Nonconformists, the 
former the celebrated mathematician, and 
the latter a landowner at Bowling, at whose 
house Nonconformists' services were held. 

After Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Francis Cor- 
ker again became vicar of this parish. 

This vicar probably belonged to a Bradford 
family, as the following entry occurs in the 
register of Burials for 1643 :—" Catherine, 
wife of Chas. Coorker, of Bradford." This 
vicar died in 1667, as there is in that year 
an entry in the Register of Burials, — 
" March 29th, Mr, Francis Corker, of Brad- 
ford, vicar." As I have before stated, he 
held the living uutil his death, after having 
passed many years in suffering, poverty, and 
vicissitude. 

Abraham Brooksbank. 

Vicar Brooksbank, before he obtained the 
living, had been the tutor of Archbishop 
Sharp, for among the Archbishop's MS.S. 
there is a list of Bradford vicars, with the 
following entry : — " 1667, Abraham Brooks- 
bank, my tutor." He probably accompanied 
his tutor to Cambridg i s he took the degree 
/of M.A. It may be inferred, both from the 
fapt of being engaged as tutor by the Arch- 
id's father and being presented to the 



living by Lady Maynard, with the approba- 
tion of Mr. Waterhouse, that he entertained 
Puritanical views. In the list of vicars, it 
will be seen that both Lady Maynard and 
Mr. Waterhouse presented him to the vi- 
carage; no doubt to satisfy some scruples in 
law, as to the person in whom the right lay. 
That Mr. Brooksbank leaned to the Non- 
conformists, may be inferred from the follow- 
ing passages in the diary of the Rev. Oliver 
Heywood, under date 8th Februarj^, 1667 : 
— " Visited Idle ; preached on Tuesday at 
Bradford; visited Mr. Brooksbank; lbdged 
at Mr. Waterhouse's ; the day after, called 
on Mr. Sharp." Nothing is known of his 
domestic history, except that he was married, 
and had a daughter, respecting whom there 
is the following entry in the Register of 
Burials for 1676 :— " June 5th, Sarah, 
daughter of Mr. Abraham Brooksbank, 
vicar of Bradford." He died in 1677, but 
does not appear to have been buried at 
Bradford Church. 

Francis Pemberton. 

Francis Pemberton, who held the vicarage 
of Bradford from the year 1677 to 1698, 
when he resigned, was, most likely, of the 
old family of Pembertons, of Trumpingtonj 
Cambridgeshire,* as he deyised to his son ? 
lands in the Isle of Ely. In 1698 he ob- 
tained the rich Rectory of Bedale, in the 
North Riding; in 1680 was preferred to a 
stall in Ripon Minster; and in 1700 was 
raised to the sub-deanery. He matriculated 
at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he 
took the degree of B.A. in 1673, and M.A. 
in 1677, the same year he was inducted to 
Bradford vicarage. He died at Bedale, on. 
the 9th October, 1721, and was buried there. 
Mr. Pemberton may, for the age, be classed 
as a liberal-minded Churchman. At that 
time, it was necessary for a schoolmaster to 
obtain from the ecclesiastical authorities a 
license to teach. Accepted Lister, son of 
Joseph Lister, the narrator of the Siege of 
Bradford, set up a school without the requi- 
site authority at Allerton, in a room his 
father had built for the purpose, and for this 
transgression, Accepted was cited to the 
Spiritual Court at York. Joseph Lister not 
very charitably observes in his Autobiogra- 
phy, (edition printed at Biadford in 1821,) 
— " The Vicar Pemberton, and some other 
great men, that were none too good, wrote 



* In the opinion of Edward Hailstone, 
Esq., he was son of Sir Francis Pemberton^ 
C.J., of the Common Pleas, lb'60. 

1.63, 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



for him because they saw he was likely to be 
of great use." The license could not be ob- 
tained, and the school had to be discontinued. 

Oliver Hey wood, in his diary, under date 
of March 28th, 1692, gives a very undig- 
nified account of one of Vicar Pemberton's 
duties. Heywood writes that be was at 
Haworth — being Easter Monday — and 
" That the Vicar of Bradford sat all day in 
an alehouse there, gathering his Easter dues, 
in Haworth parish. There was wont always 
to be a sermon in the Church that day, but 
Mr. Pemberton laid it aside. Many flocked 
to him to pay their Easter money, and then 
came to hear me." He adds, as if he envied 
the vicar his gains :— •' I got nothing for my 
pains, except four or five put 6d a piece into 
my hands." 

The present Rector of Bedale (1866), in 
answer to inquiries respecting Mr. Pember- 
ton, states: — "There is no stone or other 
monument in or about the Church, to bis 
memory, that I have been able to discover ; 
but his name, and that of his wife, were for- 
merly inscribed upon the east window of the 
Church, with some date,— I fancy that of 
their respective deaths annexed to them. 
This window, the glass of which, I am afraid, 
was destroyed, was taken out some nine years 
ago, on the occasion of the Church being 
restored. The inscription not only recorded 
that he was Sub-dean of Ripon, but also 
Prebendary of York." ■ 

Mr. Pemberton displayed all the qualities 
of a scholar, and courteous gentleman ; and, 
although High Church in principle, ex- 
hibited great tolerance of the religious 
opinion of others. 

Benjamin Baron. 

Respecting Benjamin Baron, I have been 
unable to discover much information. He 
might be of Bradford parentage, as, in the 
year 1652, Robert Barron, of Bradford, was 
married at the Church to Mary Brandison. 
He officiated, 1 believe, as curate to Mr. 
Pemberton, and thus probably gained the 
patronage of John Sharp, Archbishop of 
York, who presented him to the living. He 
obtained institution on the -1th November, 
169S, but only enjoyed the preferment seven 
years. There is a small decorated tablet in 
the Church to his memory, with the fol- 
lowing inscription : — 

" Adjacent are interred the bodies of 

Benjamin Baron, A.M., late vicar of Brad- 

(who, for his piety and probity, was 

I to none;, and two of his children, 

164 



viz , Benjamin, his second son, A.M., and 
Esther, his youngest daughter 

The father buried February 6th, 1705, 
aged 59. The son buried July 18th, 1701, 
aged 28. The daughter buried May 10th, 
1704, aged 21." 

It is probable that Michael Baron, in- 
cumbent of Thornton in 1714, was his eldest 
son. There is in the Register of Burials in 
Thornton Chapel, this entry. — " 1715, Mar- 
tha Baron, of Durham ;" probably the 
mother of Michael.* 

Bradgatb Ferrand. 

Bradgate Ferrand, M A., was the second 
son of Robert Ferrand, Esq., of Harden 
Grange, near Bingley ; and nephew of the 
Rev. Samuel Ferrand, vicar of Calverley. 
He was born in IG82, and died on the 3rd 
of May, 1709. He graduated at Trinity 
College, Oxford, and lies buried in the 
chancel of the Church, where a gravestone 
with a brass plate has been placed to his 
memory. He was of High Church princi- 
ples, but notwithstanding stood well in the 
estimation of the town. 

Thomas Clapham. 

Vicar Clapham was an eminent man in 
Bradford. He held the offices of master 
of the Grammar School, lecturer, and 
vicar. As before stated, he .sprung from 
the noted family of Clapham, of Beamsley, 
and the fact is recorded on his monument, 
surmounted by the Clapham Arms. His 
wife, who survived him, and by whom he 
had two children, was the daughter of 
David Parkinson, gnntleman. There is 
better evidence than that recorded in the 
long Latin epitaph to bis memory in the 
Parish Church, that he stands among the 
foremost of the distinguished masters of 
the Grammar School — possessing great and 
varied learning, and a'so the rare talent of 
clearly and pleasantly communicating it to 
his scholars. He hated, we are told in the 
epitaph, the bitterness of theological con- 



* There was a noted divine, James Baron, 
of the family of the Barons, of Plymouth, 
and minister of Hendreth, Berkshire, who 
died in 16S3. There was also in the middle 
of the last century, a family of the name at 
Leeds (probably sprung from Vicar Baron) 
from whom descended the late George Baron 
Esq., of South Cave, owner of deckhouse. 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



troversy, and it may, on the same authority, 
be assumed that he possessed a sweet, flowing, 
and sonorous utterance, which gave effect to 
his elegant compositions, and rendered him 
an animated and effective preacher. But it 
may be doubted whether, with all his pres- 
sing labours, he could devote much leisure 
to the other duties of a parish priest. He 
died at the comparatively early age of forty- 
nine years, intestate. 

Benjamin Kennet. 

Benjamin Kennet, M.A., the next vicar, 
a relative of Kennet, Bishop of Peterborough, 
author of many works, sprung from a di- 
stinguished clerical family of that name in 
Kent. The daughter of this celebrated 
Bishop's wife, by a former husband, married 
John Burton, Esq., of Wakefield ; and it 
has been suggested that the connexion of 
Vicar Kennet with these parts, and his mar- 
riage wtth a lady of the same place, arose 
from this circumstance. Above the monu- 
ment to our vicar in Bradford Church, there 
are the same arms as those of the Bishop : 
— Quarterly or and gules, in chief a label 
of three points, sable, with three Bezants on 
each. The epitaph is as follows : — 

" Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Ben- 
jamin Kennet, A.M., thirty-three years vicar 
of this parish. He died May 18th, 1752, 
aged 52 years. And to Mary, his third wife, 
daughter and co-heiress of Richard Dawson, 
Esq , of Wakefield, in this county. She 
died November 25th, 1754, in the forty-ninth 
year of her age. Their numerous virtues 
endeared them to their friends, and rendered 
them an example worthy of all." — Erected 
by Hannah, their daughter 

Another wife of this vicar, named Mary, 
died in 1725, aged twenty-five. 

Will of Benjamin Kennet, vicar of Brad- 
ford, dated 19th December, 1749. — Whereby, 
after stating that he was indisposed, that he 
had settled his real estate by an Indenture, 
bearing date the 10th June, 1747, and that 
his eldest son, Benjamin, was provided for, 
out of his own late mother's estate, he gave 
him the Intake lately granted to him in 
lease by Henry Marsden, Esq., Lord of the 
Manor of Bradford, situate betwixt the close 
called the New Vicarage close, and the lane, 
called Dead lane, in Bradford. Also he 
gave to his son Benjamin, his gold watch and 
blue cornelian seal, set in gold, also one dish 
of mother of pearl, pinned with silver, and a 
folio Bible, printed by Buck, which legacies 
he desires him to accept as tokens of his 



kind remembrances, and most dear affection 
and value for him. To his son Richard, he 
gives his silver watch, with all his wearing 
apparel, and printed books, except the above- 
mentioned Bible, and except such others as 
his wife should claim for her use, and for the 
use of his daughter Hannah. To his daugh- 
ter Hannah, he gave an ebony cabinet, and 
two pairs of gold ear-rings, one of them set 
with diamond sparks, two little pieces of gold 
strung with ribbons, one screen of nuns work, 
one pair of scissors, with a silver scissor's 
case enamelled, a pencil necklace, and one 
diamond ring, but her mother to have the 
use of this ring during her life if she pleased. 
To his son Richard he gave a silver tankard, 
and a large silver salver, but his mother to 
have the use of them during her life. The 
residue of his personal estate he gave to his 
wife Mary, whom he appointed executrix of 
his will, and guardian of his two children, 
Richard and Hannah, during their minority, 
Signed in the presence of M. Dawson, Ri- 
chard Ward, and Ann Bailey.— Proved 27th 
June, 1752, by Mary Kennet. 

Vicar Kennet graduated at Balliol Col- 
lege, Oxford, where he took his degree of 
M.A. on the 9th December. 1713. 

Some idea may be gathered, from the con- 
tents of this will, of the personal ornaments 
and plate of a vicar of Bradford a hundred 
years ago. 

James Sykes, 

He was born at Drighlington, in the year 
1722 ; the son of James Sykes, Esq., of that 
place, where his ancient and respectable 
family had been settled for several genera- 
tions. Mr. Sykes received his early education 
at Drighlington Grammar School, then a 
noted seminary of learning. On leaving it, 
he removed to Cambridge, and a sizer of 
Peter House, as the following translated 
extract, from the Register of that College, 
testifies : — 

" February 28th, 1740.— James Sykes, of 
Yorkshire, educated at the public school of 
Drighlington, aged eighteen years, on the 
petition of Mr. Lonsdale, deemed to be ad- 
mitted sizer, under a tutor; sureties, Mes- 
sieurs Lonsdale and Nourse, on condition 
that he remain a short time in College, and 
approve himself to the examiners. — B.A., 
1744; M.A., 1752." 

Mr. Sykes obtained, at the University, a 
high position for ability and learning, and 
only narrowly missed being elected master 

165 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



of his College. Nichols, in the " Illustra- 
tions of Literary Characters," gives the 
following notice of this event:— Dr. Edward 
Keene, master of Peter House, Cambridge, 
was, in January, 1752, nominated Bishop of 
Chester. In two years afterwards, he was 
succeeded in the headship by Dr. Law, upon 
which the Rev. James Sykes was named to 
succeed him, and stood a good chance." 

At the time of this election, Mr. Sykes 
had obtained the vicarage of Bradford, bis 
father and mother having purchased for him 
the next presentation, and he was inducted 
into the living in 1752. Henceforward, the 
remaining thirty years of his life were de- 
voted to study, his pastoral charge, and the 
quiet retirement of the vicarage house, es- 
teemed by all classes of his parishioners. 

I have been unable to discover the family 
of his wife, Anne-Maria, who died without 
issue, rind was interred at Bradford, 9th 
September, 1778. He mentions, in his will, 
an Aurelia-Elizabetha Copley, probably his 
deceased wife's sister. 

There is in Bradford Church, a monument 
to his memory, surmounted by the arms of 
Sykes, with this inscription:— 

u Sacred to the memory of the Rev. 
James Sykes, M A., above thirty years vicar 
of this parish ; amply qualified by his exten- 
sive learning and exemplary virtue for the 
due discharge of his pastoral office: He was 
a diligent and useful preacher, who, in his 
discourses from the pulpit, carefully avoided 
all abstruse and contentious doctrines, and 
studied only to edify and instruct his hearers 
in the true gospel principles of Faith and 
Obedience : His religion was pure and un ■ 
affected \ his piety, real and rational : To 
the poor, he was kind and beneficent, affable 
and condescending to all, and as willing as 
he was able to communicate on all proper 
occasions, his judicious and seasonable ad- 
vice : For these qualities, he was universally 
esteemed and beloved when living, and in 
his death deservedly lamented. He died 
August 7th, 17*3, aged sixty."* 

John Chossb. 

The next vicar, the Rev. John Crosse, 
WW bom in the parish of St. Martins-in-the 
Fields, London, in the year 1739. He was 
educated at a school at Hadley,near Barnet, 
Hertfordshire. He was afterwards entered 



* In the List of Vicars, page 152, ante, 
his christian name, by mistake, is put as 
- John " It is so also in the " H:itory of 



Bradford." 
166 



at St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, and received 
the degree of M.A. from that college. It is 
not known by what bishop, or when he was 
ordained ; but his first curacy was in Wilt- 
shire, whence he removed to Lock Chapel, 
London. In 1765 he went abroad, and tra- 
velled for three years through the greater 
part of Europe. A MS. account of his 
travels is still extant. Soon after his return 
to England he was presented to the then 
very small livings of Crosstone and Tod- 
morden, where he continued six years. He 
then became incumbent of White Chapel, 
Cleckheaton. His father, Hammond Crv>sse, 
Esquire, of Kensington, having bought for 
him the next presentation of Bradford 
vicarage, he was presented to it in J 784. 
He was vicar of Bradford thirty-two years, 
and died after a short illness June 17th, 
1816. He lies interred on the north-west 
side of the church-yard, where his grave is 
distinguished only by a plain slab over it. 
It is; however, at the time this is written, 
the tardy intention of several of his admirers 
to raise by subscription a monument to his 
memory.* (Since accomplished ) 

Though for a few years before his death 
he was totally blind, yet he continued to 
perform the offices of the church till a fort- 
night before his death. There are few mi- 
nisters who have enjoyed so unbounded a 
popularity in their own parishes as Mr. 
Crosse. He lived on the most friendly terms 
with men of every grade of religious and 
political belief. He was, in doctrine, of the 
Evangelical school, taking (as is not gene- 
rally the case with that section) the Arminian 
view of the Scriptures. During his ministry, 
there was not sufficient accommodation in 
the parish church, even with the three 
large galleries he built, for his numerous 
hearers. In a word, he was a counterpart of 
Chaucer's good parson, and his character has 
been felicitously describedf in the words of 
that poet, from which description I extract 
the following : 



* I have been indebted to the Rev. Wm. 
Morgan, incumbent of Christ Church (1841), 
for the greater part of the above particu- 
lars relating to the Rev. Mr. Crosse. Mr. 
Morgan is at the time this is written, pre- 
paring for the prees a life of this venerable 
vicar, and I have every reason to think 
that it will be an interesting work ; cer- 
tainly no man is better fitted for the task, 
as Mr. Morgan was for a long period on 
terms of strict intimacy with Mr. Crosse. 

t In the pamphlet edited by Dr. Outh- 
waite, before mentioned. 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD, 



" He was a shepherd, and no mercenary. 
" To draw forth to heaven with fairness, 
*' By good example was his busines. 
H He waited after no pomp nor reverence, 
u Nor marked him no spiced conscience; 
" But Christ's love and his apostles twelve 
<: He taught, but first he followed it himself." 

Henry Heap. 

The successor of Mr. Crosse, the Rev. 
Henry Heap, was brrn at a farm-house in 
the township of Langfield, near Todmorden, 
in March, 1789. His father was a mason ; 
and on the formation of the canal up Tod- 
morden valley, entered into some successful 
contracts, and amassed by honest means a 
small fortune. When Mr. Crosse was in- 
cumbent at Crosstone, he and Mr. Heap's 
father (who then resided at Millwood, in 
Crosstone) were intimate ; and it was princi- 
pally through the endeavours of Mr. Crosse, 
that the son was brought up to the Church. 
Mr. Heap was educated for the ministry 
chiefly by the Rev. Samuel Knight, vicar of 
Halifax. He was never entered as a student 
at any university. Through the instrumen- 
tality of Mr. Crosse, he was first curate of 
St. James's church, in Manchester, under 
the late Rev. Dr. Bailey. In 1816 he was 
presented to the vicarage of Bradford, which 
he held to his death, on the 17th January, 
1839; having nearly completed his fiftieth 
year. The Archbishop of Canterbury, on 
the strong recommendation of his Grace of 
York, bestowed upon him the degree of B D. 
He possessed many sterling excellencies of 
heart. There are in the character of Chau- 
cer's parson, some traits which I believe may 
be appositely applied to Mr. Heap. — 

" He was in adversity full patient, 

* And soch one he was provid ofte sithes, 

" Full loth were him to cursin for his tithes 

" But rather wolde he given out of dout, 

** Unto his poor parish'ners all about : 

" Both of his offryng and of his substaunce: 

" He couth in lity 1 thing have sufficaunce."* 

He lies in the south aisle of the church, 
where the spot is marked with an inscribed 
grave-stone. He was twiced married. He 
had, for his second wife, the daughter of 
Richard Fawcett. Esquire, of Bradford. 
A son of the late Rev. Henry Heap, has 



* Prologue to Canterbury Tales, in Uray's 
edition of Chaucer. 



been for many years incumbent of the " Belt 
Chapel," Thornton; and it may here be 
mentioned that his father was presented to 
the vicarage of Bradford Church, by Daniel 
Sykes, of Ray well, in the East Riding, John 
Thornton, and Zachary Macauley (father 
of Lord Macauley), both of the city of 
London, as trustees of the advowson. 

William Scoresby. 

An extended notice will be required of 
Mr. Heap's successor, William Scoresby, 
D.D. Whether we consider him as a man 
of world-wide fame, as a philosopher, or a 
contributor to the literature of this country, 
he stands at the head of those who have 
gained this benefice: — 

He was born at the village of Cropton 
near Pickering, in the North Riding, the 
only son of Captain Scoresby, of Whitby, a 
mariner, well known in Arctic discovery. 
After receiving the rudiments of an ordinary 
education, he entered the University of Ed- 
inburgh, where he pursued his studies for 
some time. Young Scoresby very early en- 
tered the sea-faring life, under his father, one 
of the most daring and skilful seamen in the 
Northern Whale Fishery, and laid the 
foundation of that nautical knowledge for 
which he was distinguished. Eventually he 
became himself the Captain of a whaler, and 
eminently successful in that vocation. He 
would never allow a whale to be harpooned 
on a Sunday, and such was his influence over 
his crew, that they became model seamen in 
behaviour and skill. Most of his voyages 
were made from Whitby, though for some of 
the later ones, the port of Liverpool was 
chosen, and with the merchants and gentry 
of that neighbourhood, he formed many 
sincere friendships, which lasted for life. 

Availing himself of the leisure, the long 
voyages, which he took afforded, he devoted 
much time to the acquisition of learning and 
science. Thus prepared, and becoming tired 
of the fatigues and dangers of the whale 
fishery, he decided to follow the inclination 
he had long felt to enter the Church. In 
the year 1824, he entered the University of 
Cambridge, and studied for holy orders, with 
such zeal and success, that he received orders 
from the Archbishop of York, the next year. 
The Mariners' Church at Liverpool, obtained 
his first services. Then he was curate of 
Bessingby, in Yorkshire, and again removed 
to Liverpool, to officiate at the floating 
Chapel, as Chaplain. Finding that the air 
of Liverpool disagreed with his constitution, 
— always delicate,— he removed to Exeter, 

167 



VICARS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



■where he obtained a small incumbency, 
which he held for several years. He, from 
the first, allied himself with the Evangelical 
paity in the Church. Having in the year 
] 839, received from Simeon's Trustees, as a 
reward for his piety and zeal, the presenta- 
tion to the Vicarage of Bradford, he at once 
removed to this town. About the same time, 
his University conferred upon him, after the 
usual ten years' probationary course, the de- 
gree of D.D. Whilst vicar of Bradford, he 
resided at Daisy-hill house, which, within 
the distance of two miles, overlooks a large 
portion of the town. Here he worked dili- 
gently in the discharge of his pastoral duties, 
and attending the Schools, employing his 
leisure in philosophical experiments, espe- 
cially magnetism and electricity, his favourite 
studies. His philosophical apparatus was 
both large and expensive. His habits were 
very methodical. He arose early ; and the 
author well remembers having to make an 
appointment with him, respecting some sur- 
rogate business, waiting upon him a little after 
seven, and was invited to breakfast, to which 
they sat down at eight o'clock. He was 
very affable, and led the conversation on a 
variety of subjects. Looking over the town 
he said with a melancholy voice, he felt the 
heavy responsibility of the spiritual charge 
of a place of such importance and magnitude. 
Mrs. Scoresby and her husband seemed to be 
upon the most affectionate terms. She was 
very lad.y-like in her manners, and very 
courteous. 

Whilst vicar of Bradford, he laboured 
very energetically in preaching, giving eve- 
ning lectures in the Parish Church, and 
literary and philosophical lectures in the 
Church Institute, which he founded. The 
income from the vicarage was not then large, 
but it was known that he devoted the whole 
of it to works of benevolence, in promoting 
the welfare of his parishioners. His position 
at Bradford was anything but one of roses, 
but, on the contrary, one of thorns. He had 
continual conflicts with a portion of his 
parishioners on various unfortunate subjects, 
which embittered his life, and marred his 
usefulness. Perhaps these arose partly from 
his disposition to consider himself at the 
head of the parish, and. like a good Captain 
of a ship, who whilst maintaining strict dis- 
cipline and subordination, seeks only the 
good of those under his cure. But the in- 
habitants of Bradford, with " independence 
in their look, and defiance in the eye," were 
little disposed to acknowledge his claim to 
such extraotdinary authority. Now, at this 
distance of time, a neutral party may pro- 
bably, without offending any one, observe 

168 



that he was " more sinned against than sin- 
ning." For instance, in the case of St. John's 
Church, an attempt was made to endow it 
out of the fees of the Parish Church, and to 
altogether ignore, in various important mat- 
ters, the rights and authority of the vicar. 
Again, as to the differences which he had 
with several influential Churchmen respecting 
the mode in which the funds granted by the 
Pastoral Aid Society should be administered, 
the root of the bitterness lay in the deliber- 
ate attempt to overrule his plans, and to use 
the money according to private views and 
purposes. In another affair, he seems to 
have allowed his zeal to overrun his judg- 
ment. Being convinced himself of the 
legality and justice of imposing Church rates 
upon his parishioners, of whom so large a 
portion were Dissenters, he took measures to 
carry out his views, and was met with a strong, 
determined, and organized opposition. The 
vestry meetings, convened to impose Church 
rates at Bradford, were among the most 
tumultuous and strong ever held within a 
Church, and were often so crowded than an 
adjournment was needed to the Church yard. 
In the end, after much turmoil, Church rates 
were, in fact, abolished in Bradford. 

Let us turn to pleasanter prospects, and 
specify a few of the many good deeds which 
marked his path whilst here. Four Schools 
were built by his effoits, at a cost of £4,000, 
and with one exception, entirely on his own 
responsibility as to the funds. Such Schools 
were much wanted in this district •, and, be- . 
sides, in some cases, were used on Sundays 
for public worship. When Dr. Scoresby 
came to Bradford, there was not a single 
child under daily education, in connection 
with the Parish Church. At the close of his 
labours as vicar, there were 1,500 scholars, 
and 1.200 Sunday scholars. These facts are 
culled from the speech of the chairman of a 
meeting convened in June, lb47, to give a 
farewell to the Doctor on his leaving Brad- 
ford. Many more instances of his usefulness 
might be adduced. He was exceedingly 
instrumental in obtaining the present peal of 
bells,* and when they were opened with a 
disphiy of change ringing, he ascended the 
tower, where a large party of good Church- 
men were celebrating the occasion with wine 
and music, joined in the rejoicing, and made 
an eloquent and touching speech. 

At last, feeling that his clerical labours in 
Bradfjrd were much obstructed, and his 
health shattered, he resigned the vicarage, 



* In 1845, the old peal of eight bells were 
re- cast. There are now ten excellent bells 



LECTURERS OF THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



and retired to Torquay. Tie officiated, dur- 
ing his stay there, at the neighbouring Church 
of Upton. From this retreat he was drawn, 
in order that he might advance the cause of 
science and mankind. He had, when a very 
3-oung sailor, devoted much attention to mag- 
netic experiments, and had even then con- 
ceived the idea of the distractions of the 
compass on board iron ships in long voyages. 
Reading a paper on the subject, before the 
British Association, an animated discussion 
ensued, and in consequence, a Compass Com- 
mittee was formed. To test his theory, Dr. 
Scoresby went out in the ill-fated Royal 
Charter, to Melbourne. The results of his 
voyage, belong to the annals of science. 
Suffice it here, that the fatigues and anxieties 
of this voyage, enfeebled his constitution, 
and shortened his life. He died of disease 
of the heart, a martyr to science, at Torquay, 
the year after his return, and was buried at 
Upton Church, where a memorial has been 
placed, with the following inscription in re- 
membrance of him. Unlike the usual pane- 
gyrics in the lapidary style, it conveys the 
words of truth. To his piety, benevolence, 
energy, and private worth, Bradford can 
bear ample testimony. — 

" In memory of the Rev. William Scores- 
by, D D., F.R,S., Member of the Institute 
of France, and of various other Scientific 
Institutions in Europe, and America. In 
early life, a distinguished seaman, renowned 
for his discoveries in the Arctic regions; 
afterwards vicar of Bradford, and latterly 
honorary of this Church. Pious, benevolent, 
devoted to science, of surpassing energy. 
His friends and admirers in grateful recollec- 
tion of his public services, and as a testimony 
of their regard for his private worth, have 
erected this monument. Born at Cropton, 
near Whitby, A.D. 1789. Died at Torquay, 
March 21, A.D. 1857." 

His works are very voluminous as he early 
commenced author. About the age of 
twenty-four, he produced bis great work, 
" An account of the Arctic Regions, with a 
history and description of the Northern 
"Whale Fishery," in two vols., 8vo., with 
twenty-four engravings. This was soon fol- 
lowed by a " Voyage to the Northern Whale 
Fishery," in one volume. These works ex- 
cited much attention, and spread his fame as 
an Arctic explorer and observer over Europe. 
After these, he wrote " Memorials of the 
Sea;" "The Sufferings and Persecutions of 
the Irish Protestants;" " Discourses to Sea- 
men ;" " Fifteen Sermons preached in the 
Mariners' Church, Liverpool;"" The Philo- 



sophy of the Gospel-," "My Father: The 
Life of William Scoresby, Esq., Whitby," 
" American Factories;" " Magnetical Inves- 
tigations ;" and a host of minor works. In- 
deed, the whole of the books and pamphlets 
published by him, number upwards of eighty 
besides which, he was a contributor of nu, 
merous valuable papers to the Philosophica- 
Transactions, and other scientific periodicals! 

Dr. Scoresby resigned the living in the 
year 1847, and the present worthy vicar 
John Burnet, LL.D., received it from Si- 
meon's Trustees. Since then he has intro- 
duced many great improvements, and acted 
harmoniously w-ith all classes of his parish- 
ioners in promoting the religious welfare of 
the town. 

LECTURERS. 



I have been unable to make out a con- 
secutive list of the lecturers at the church 
under Sunderland's gift. Francis Gleadstone, 
A.M., was lecturer for twenty-one years, and 
died on the 7th October, 1692. J here is a 
monument to his memory in the chancel of 
the church. Sometime after him the Rev. 
Mr* Hill was lecturer, and he was succeeded 
byjj the Rev. Mr. Butler, who held the 
lectureship fifty years. It was (1842) held 
by the Rev. William Atkinson, A.M. ; but 
the duties were performed by the Rev. John 
Butterfield, A.M. 

The following List of Lecturers has, so far 
as the order of them, been extracted from 
MS.S. in the possession of Edward Hailstone, 
Esq., of Horton Hall :— 

1671. — Francis Gledstone, M.A., lecturer 
twenty-one years. He resided in the house, 
afterwards purchased for the vicarage in 
1695. In the Church, there is a monument 
to him with a Latin inscription. He died 
7th October, 1692, aged forty-nine : — 

" Mr. Wainhouse, the present Lecturer." 
This extract is from Archbishop sharp's 
MS.S., and seems to have been written about 
the year 1700, because it is there stated:— 
".The Lecture was founded twenty-five or 
thirty years ago." 

1703. — Thomas Clapham, M.A., master of 
the Grammar School. In the year 1710, he 
obtained the vicarage of Bradford. He 
appears to have held all the three offices until 
his death, in 1719. See some notices of 
him in the former part of this work, (See 
also Grammar School. J 

1719. — Jeremiah Jackson, of whom I 
have no account. 

1723.— Thomas Hill, M.A. He was 

169 



REGISTERS IN THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



master of the Grammar School from the 
year 1718 until his death in 1728. (See 
Grammar School.) 

17^9.— Benjamin Butler, M.A., who was 
also, about the same time, appointed master 
of the Grammar School, which he resigned 
ia 1784. See Grammar School- ) 

1784. — William Atkinson, M.A., son of 
the Rev. Christopher Atkinson, Rector of 
Thorparch, and brother to the Rev. Miles 
Atkinson, minister of St. Paul's, Leeds. Mr. 
Atkinson was author of a volume of poems. 
He was the maternal grandfather of M W. 
Thompson, Esq., M.P., late Mayor of Brad- 



ford, and during his long residence in the 
town, enjoyed the esteem of the inhabitants. 
He died September 30th, 1846, in his eighty- 
ninth year.* 

John Bickerdike, M.A., the present Lec- 
turer, by proxy, succeeded Mr. Atkinson. 



* His three elder brothers, Johnson At- 
kinson Busfeild, Miles Atkinson, and Chris- 
topher Atkinson, were all three wranglers — 
an unexampled instance, I believe. William, 
the fourth brother, was of Jesus College, 
Cambridge. First Juior Optime, 1780* 



REGISTER 

Of the Townships and Owners' Names, with the Seats or Sittings alloted to each, in the 
Parish Church of Bradford, before the year 1705. 



BRADFORD. 



John Stockdale, 
Mr. John Smith, 
Jonas Nichols 
William Hutton, 
John Parker 
William Denham — 
Jonas Clarkson 
Mr. W. Rawson 
George Jackson 
Joseph Field 
Samuel Stansfield 
William Webster 
Mr. Richard Smith „- 
Thomas Rhodes, Sen. 
Thomas Hodgson __ 
Jonathan Thompson 
Widow Ferrand 
John Bannister 
W T illiam Norton 
Susan Collier 
Ann Parkinson 
John Margerison — 
George Parish 
Thomas Rhodes, Jun. 
Mr. Hoppy 
John Ellis 
Jere. Bower of Idle 
John Croasdale 
Jonas Bower 
Tobias West 
Mr. Thomas Clapham 
Benjamin Killingbeck 
Mr. Jonas Waterhouse 
William Atkinson 
Joshua Stead 
John Stead 
170 



sittings. 
one and a half 
one and three-fourths 
one- fourth 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one 
one-fourth 
two and a half 
three- fourths 
one 
. three and one-fourth 
one and one-fourth 
five and one-fourth 
one and one-fourth 
two and a half 
one and one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one- fourth 
one-fourth 
one 
one half 
one and a half 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one and a half 
one- fourth 
one- fourth 
one-fourth 
one half 
two 
one 
two 
five 
one half 
one-fourth 
one- fourth 



SITTINGS. 

Mrs. Mortimer and J. Shaw seven 

Mr. John Stanhope __ one and one-fourth 
Mrs. Sharp or R. Stansfield two & one-fourth 
Mrs. Walker __ one and one-fourth 



Mr. ilower 


three-fourths 


Matthew Stead 


two 


Grace Smith 


three-fourths 


Mr. Thomas Hooke 


three 


Samuel Hollingworth __ 


three-fourths 


John Hird 


one 


William Stead 


one 


Joshua Bartlett 


one half 


James Law 


one-fourth 


John Jobson 


one- fourth 


Mr. Marsden 


one and a half 


Richard Rhodes one and three-fourths 


Trustees of Bradford School 


three & a half 


Mr. John Bower six and three-fourths 


Mr. James Garth 


one 


Mr. Edward Weddell four and three- fourths 


Isaac Hodgson 


three- fourths 


John Northrop 


one-fourth 


Michael Gargrave, Housing 


one-fourth 


Matthew Rhodes, Ditto 


one-fourth 


Isaac Nay lor 


one- fourth 


Thomas Swaine 


one-fourth 


Timothy Leach 


one-fourth 


David Pratt, 


one-fourth 


John Hollings 


one- fourth 


Mr. John Beckwith one and three-fourths 


Keiyhley Poor Land two and one-fourth 


Samuel Ward 


one-fourth 


Thomas Ferrand and Isaac 
Broadley__ 


} one & a half 


William Boiling 


one 


Isaac Sharp 


one half 


Mr. John Field 


one half 


Katherine Kitson 


one-fourth 



REGISTERS IN THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



SITTINGS. 

John Jowett -- one-fourth 

Mr. Jeremiah Sagar__ one half 

Jane Collier, Widow one-fourth 

John Drake and Mr. John\ e „ „ 

Hollings .„ } one & one-fourth 

William Greenipp __ one-fourth 

William Cordingley-- two 

Lazarus Peel __ one half 

Mr. Ferrand __ three and a half 

Mrs. Dryden for the Bell one 

Mr. Wilkinson __ two and one-fourth 
Widow Holdsworth for\ ^ n „ . , c ., 
B.Bartlett .J one & three-fourths 

Tobias Ellis __ three-fourths 

David Parkinson for the Kilns one half 

John Pollard, Byerley one and one half 

Quaker Meeting House one-fourth 

Abraham Balme __one and three-fourths 
Robert Jobson __ One- fourth 

Mr. Jon. Wright __ two and one-fourth 
Feoffees of Thornton School one half 

Mrs. Beatrix Field __ nine and one fourth 
Elizabeth Denham, Widow one half 

Robert Parkinson __ one-fourth 

John Nicholls __ one 

Thomas Walker __ one and a half 

William Kinder __ one-fourth 

Christian and Ann Fountaine 

for Mary Wallis one half 

Henry Atkinson two and one-fourth 

Susan Naylor, Widow three-fourths 

John Haugh __ one and one-fourth 

Benjamin Stables __ one half 

Mr. Richard Richardson three and a half 
Mrs. Richardson three and three-fourths 
Mr. Jas. and Josa. Sharp one&three-fourths 
Benjamin Swaine __ three-fourths 

Thomas Rowland __ three-fourths 

Francis Stapleton __ one 

Appleyard __ one-fourth 

Joshua Manks _- one- fourth 

Thomas Bowker __ one-fourth 

Mr. John Hey one-fourth 

Mr. W. Swaine eight 

Mrs. Elizabeth Hollings one-fourth 

Thomas Sharp __ one half 

Mr. Robert Butler __ two and one-fourth 
Mr. Abraham Swaine two and three-fourths 
Thomas Webster __ one and three- fourths 

Joseph Booth one-fourth 

William Dixon three and a half 

Ramsden one-fourth 



HORTONS. 

The Heirs of Isaac Hollings 9& three-fourths 

John Hollings one-fourth 

William Mortimer four and one-fourth 



SITTINGS. 

Thomas Hodgson _. one and one-fourth 

Gilbert Brooksbank __ f our 
Bingley School Land__ 

Joseph Stocks ._ two and a half 

William Hammond — three-fourths 
Win ny Farm 

William Blackburne ne half 

Widow Brooksbank __ one 

John Parkinson .._ one i ia jf 

Rouse Farm __ one-fourth 
Widow Ellis 

Martin Hodgson __ one-fourth 

John Raw-son __ one-fourth 

James Hall, Stapler __ one half 

John Ash ton _. three-fourths 

Richard Pollard __ one-fourth 

John Mortimer __ one-fourth 

Robert Fox's Farm __ one- fourth 

William Pollard __ one- fourth 

James Hall of Larne one half 

Isaac Naylor 

Widow Drake __ one-fourth 

Mr. Beckwith __ one-fourth 

Gregory Fox __ one-fourth 

John Thornton 

Richard Thornton __ one half 

Robert Swaine, Milner one-fourth 

John Littlewood __ one-fourth 

Thomas Hodgson, Bradford 

Widow Hodgson, Bowling 

Wm. Pollard, Bank Bottom one half 

Utley Farm __ one- fourth 

Thomas Gledhill __ one half 

Widow Clayton, for Hall Yard one-fourth 

James Copley 

Mr. Wilkinson II ne half 

Samuel Garnett __ ne half 

Henry Lancaster, &c__ one half 

John Hall __ one half 

James Chadwick ne half 

Judson and Northrop one half 

E. and R. Fletcher __ three-fourths 

Thomas Thornton, Idle one half 

Thomas Swaine __ three-fourths 

John Judson __ one-fourth 

Jonas Judson __ one-fourth 

John Croft __ one-fourth 

Joseph Blaymires _„ one-fourth 
Daniel Blaymires 
Joseph Sucksmith 

Robert Swaine, Hunt Yard one half 
Mrs. Sharp and Robert Stans- 

field -_ three and one-fourth 

Isaac Sharpe one and a half 

Mr. John Lister __, two 

Joshua Stansfield __ one half 

Mr. Thorpland ne 

Heirs of Thomas Hodgson one half 

Christopher Swaine __ one- fourth 

Swaine of Cinderhill three-fourths 
171 



REGISTERS IN THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



Ann Brooksbank 

Christopher Pollard __ 

Samuel Swaine 

Abraham Balme 

Isaac Sugden 

Isaac Balme 

Widow Gargrave 

Thomas Webster 

Mr. Swaine 

Thomas Ferrand 

Mr. John Bower 

Chris. Swaine, and Thomas 

Rowland 
Mr. Butler, Mr. Sagar, and 
many others __ 



SITTINGS. 

three-fourths 

one half 

one-fourth 

one- fourth 

one- fourth 

one fourth 

one-fourth 

one-fourth 

one 

one half 

three-fourths 

one- fourth 



Mi 



MANN INGHAM. 



John Lister 


four 


Francis Stapleton 


two 


Thomas Crabtree four 


and one-fourth 


Mr. Sunderland one and three- fourths 


Mr. James Smith 


three-fourths 


For the School Land__ 


one-fourth 


Tempest Cordingley __ 


one 


Mr. J. Smith for Mr. Denton 


two 


Chris. Smith 


one and a half 


Jos. Bartlett 


one half 


Jere. Sowden 


two 


James Taylor 


three-fourths 


Mr. Rawson 


one-fourth 


Mrs. Holdsworth 


three-fourths 


Thomas Morley 


one-fourth 


John Jowett, Fould __ 


one half 


Wm. Mortimer 


one half 


Thomas Hodgson 


one and a half 


John Hollings 


one half 


Mr. Swaine __ two and one- fourth 


Thomas Barker 


three-fourths 


Mr. John Bower 


one and a half 


John Jowett of Brocks 


one half 


John Field of Heaton 


one half 


Widow Hodgson and Sale 




Thomas Tempest for School 


Lands 


one-fourth 


John Field of Shipley 


one half 


Chris. Horrocks 


one half 


Mr. Fenton 


three-fourths 


James Penny 


one-fourth 


Nicholas Pollard 


one 


Jonas Wade 


one-fourth 


John Stockdale 


one half 


For part of School Lands 


one-fourth 


Mr. Mellin 


one 


Wm. Boiling and Mr. Sagar 


one 


Thomas Ferrand for Broadley 


Land 


three-fourths 



A. Stead's Lands, and 

Dade's 
Tobias Ellis 
Wm.Denham 
Wm. Northrop 
Jonas Crabtree 
Toby Parker 
Jonas Morley 
John Holmes 
Bingley Poor Land __ 



HEATON- 



SITTINGS. 

three-fourths 
one half 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one- fourth 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 



two 

one and one-fourth 

three 

__ one and one- fourth 

one half 



Mr. Bowling 

Wm. Bowling 

James Garth 

Benjamin Waugh 

John Booth 

Rob. Wallis __ one-fourth 

Isaac Gawkrodger __ one- fourth 

James Lister, Sen. __ two 

Jos. Field, Sen. and Thomas 

Walker _- one 

Joshua Field __ one- fourth 

Wm. Crabtree one-fourth 

John Gawkrodger __ one half 

Jere. Dixon, G. Booth one half 

Jo. Field and G. Beanlands one 

Josias Craven for Carr Farm 1 & one-fourth 
J as. Lister and Mr. Emott one 

Joseph Clapham and Joshua 

Marshall 
Mr. Mason 
Heirs of Joseph Hollings, 

Jonas Crabtree, and John 

Crabtree 
Jos. Kitson and Thos. Crabtree 



one 
one 



one 
one 



BOWLING. 

Francis Lyndley, Esq. 

Mr. W. Rawson, T. Rawson 

William Thornton, Joseph 

Sugden, Thos. Rhodes, Wm. 

Muff 
Mr. W. Richardson __ 
Abraham Dixon 
Mr. W. Richardson — 
Mr. W. Swaine 
John Sugden 
Thomas Cordingley — 
John Phillip 
Richard Hodgson 
Josa. Stansfield, Wm. Hodgson, 

Thomas Sugden, and Tho. 

Walker 



five 



one 

two 

three-fourths 

one-fourth 

two 

one half 

one half 

one half 

one half 



172 



REGISTERS IN THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



SITTINGS 

Mrs. H. Richardson, Wm. 
Curtis, Sen. Tho. Dawson, 
and Isaac Nicholls 

Leath Ellis, John Hutchinson, 
Abrn. Wilkinson, and Na- 
than Cordingley 

Mr. W. Rawson 

Mr. Thorp 

Rob. Ferrand, Esq., Dr. Ri- 
chardson, Jos. Denbigh, and 
Mr. Thorp 

Mr. John Lister 

Matthew Cordingley, T. Cor- 
dingiey, and J ohn Blacbrough 

Wm. Lumby 

Isaac Balme 

Wm. Ramsdon 

Mr. Rawson and S. Gargrave 

Wm. Sharpe 

Heirs of Susan Laycock__ 



one 
two 



one 

one half 



le half 
three-fourths 
one- fourth 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one-fourth 
one- fourth 



WIBSEY 
AND NORTH BIERLEY. 



John Rookes Esq. for himself 

and Tenants 
Tempest Cordingley for the 

Parkhouse Land 
Francis Ramsbottom and 

Jeremy Ackroyd 
Wm. Pollard 

Thomas Booth __ ' 

Samuel Little wood 
Mary Sturdy, &c. 
John Terry 
Mr. James Smith, Alexander 

Wood, Stephen Fawcett, 

and John Terry 
Widow Lister for Cockroyd's 

and John Smith Tenant 

being Mary King's Lands 
Dr. Richardson for himself 

and Tenants 
Wm. Pollard 
Henry Ashley and John 

Butler, Thomas Sharp and 

Wm. Pollard 
John Pollard and Mr- A. 

Swaine 
Mr. Wm. Rawson 
Samuel Thornton 
Martha Hodgson 
John Copley 



ECCLESHILL. 

John Stanhope, Esq. 



SITTINGS. 

Jere. Copperthwaite two 

John Nichols __ three-fourths 

Wm. Bartle __ one-fourth 

Abraham Nichols one half 

Mr. Wormal __ one 

James Garth, a Minor one 

Mr. Brooksbank __ one 

Nathan Jowett __ one 

Zachariah Rayner __ one 

Mr. S. Hemmingway »_ one 

James Thompson __ three-fourths 

Mr. Jos. Wood __ one half 

Wm. Norton .« one 

Jere. Sowden for Ackroyds one 

Josias Sowden __ one half 

James Fletcher __ one half 

Wm. Barraclough one half 

John Dean one- fourth 

James Barraclough _- one half 
John Swaine, Samuel Swaine, 

and Jere. Sowden — one 

Joseph Vittars one half 

John Jowett, James Hutton, 

and Thomas Pawson __ one 



nineteen 


SHIPLEY. 




two 


Mr. Rawson 




three 




Mr. Proctor 


__ 


two 


two 


Abraham and Timothy 


Dixon 


three 


one 


Jeremy Dixon 


__ 


one 


one 


John Nathan Dixon 


__ 


one 


one 


John Field, sen. 





one 


one 


John Field, jun. 


__ 


two 


one 


John Lister 


__ 


two 




Hartley Land 


— 


two 




Jasper Pickard 


__ 


one 


one 


Jeremy Garth 


__ 


three-fourths 




William Midgley 


__ 


three-fourths 




Marmaduke Raynor 


„_ 


one half 




Mr. Fell, New Close 


__ 


one 


eight 
three 


Mrs. Dobson 


__ 


one half 


Hirst Mill— Hannah 


Weet- 




man, Owner — Geo. 


Birch, 






Tenant 


-_ 


one 


one 








one 


ALLERTON. 




one half 








one-fourth 


Mr. John Hollings 


-. 


two and a half 


one-fourth 


Dr. Richardson 





three-fourths 


one 


Joseph Middleton 


__ 


one 




Mr. Fenton 


__ 


one half 




and for Stockey 


__ 


one half 




Mr. Brian Sunderland 




one and a half 




John Hodgson 


__ 


one-fourth 


six 


John Cossin 


-- 


one-fourth 

m 



REGISTERS IN THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 







SITTINGS. 






SITTINGS. 


John Shaw- 





one half 


way, the Heirs of John 




Widow Mortimer 





three-fourths 


Brooksbank, William Ward, 




Richard Blackburn 


__ 


three-fourths 


Nathan Smith, the Heirs 




Mr. James Sagar 


__ 


one and a half 


of Liversedge, the Heirs of 




Matthew Rollings 




one and a half 


Bell, Widow Mortimer, 




Joseph Hollings 





one 


Relict of Edmund, ! 


EL 




Jonas White 




one 


Brook, S. Waller, &c. 


__ 


three 


Joseph Lister 


__ 


one half 








Joseph Hollings 


__ 


one-fourth 









Jeremy White 


__ 


three -fourths 








John Cockcroft 




one half 








Jere Gledhill 




one 


THORNTON. 




Wm. Ferrar 




one half 








Widow Leath 




one 


Mr. Elkanah Horton 


__ 


four 


Abram Pearson 




one- fourth 


Mr. John Hollings 


_ -three and a half 


Widow Jennings 




one- fourth 


West Scoles or W. Hird 





one and a half 


Mr. Elkanah Horton 




three-fourlhs 


Upper Headley or Mr. Butler 


one aud a half 


Mr. Moore 


one 


and one-fourth 


James Keighley 


__ 


one half 


Widow Hargreaves 


__ 


three-fourths 


Jeremy Gledhill 


__ 


one 


Joshua Binns 




one-fourths 


Jos. Firth 


__ 


one 








Wm. & Jonas Pearson 


_ _ 


one 








Joshua Wright 


__ 


one half 








Mr. Isaac Hollings 


__ 


two 


CLAYTON 




Mr. Wm. Midgley 


__ 


one half 








Mrs. Martha Midgley 





one half 


John Midgley for himself 




John Pear&on 





one half 


and Tenants two ar 


id three-fourths 


Heirs of Jon. Dobson 


__ 


one half 


Wm. Midgley 




one-fourth 


Jtfseph Booth 


__ 


one half 


John Hirst 


__ 


one 


Timothy Gawkrodger 





one half 


Isaac Hollings three and three-fourths 


Chapel Lands 


__ 


one-fourth 


George Carter 


__ 


one-fourth 


School Lands 


__ 


one-fourth 


Mr. Ferrand for himself and 


John Wadsworth 


__ 


one half 


Tenants 





two 


Abraham Longley 


__ 


one fourth 


Mr. Langley 


_ — 


one-fourth 


John Ambler 


_„ 


one-fourth 


Jonas Sucksmith 


__ 


one- fourth 


Mr. Cockcroft 


_ m 


one half 


John Armitage 


__ 


one-fourth 


Thomas Hirst 


__ 


one half 


Edward Hemmingway 


__ 


one-fourth 


Tempe-t (Jordingley 





one half 


Mr. Oates' Land 




one half 


Mr. Thornton 


__ 


one and a half 


Mr. Wood's Ditto 




one half 


Jonas White 


__ 


pne.fourth 


Wm. Mortimer 




one half 


John Dixon 


__ 


one half 


Isaac Balme 





one half 


John Cordingley 


__ 


one-fouath 


Thomas Gledhill 


M 


one-fourth 


John Ambler 


_ _ 


one-fourth 


Michael Ackroyd 





one-fourth 


Nathan Pearson 


__ 


one half 


Sugden's Land 


__ 


one- fourth 


Matthew Foster 


__ 


one half 


John Harrison 


__ 


one- fourth 


Widow Jennings 


__ 


one half 


James Murgatroyd 


__ 


one half 


Robert Ferrand, Esq. 





one-fourth 


Abram Sharpe 


__ 


one- fourth 


Mr. Edward Ferrand 


__ 


one- fourth 


Lambert's Land 


__ 


one-fourth 


Robert Leath, now Mr. E. 




Henry Lancaster 


__ 


one-fourth 


Ferrand 


... 


one fourth 


Jos. Sucksmith 


__ 


one-fourth 


Jeremy Stott or Scott 


__ 


one half 


Abraham Nay lor 


__ 


one-fourth 


J as. Copley, Alderscoles 


_ _ 


one half 


Richard Pollard 


__ 


one-fourth 


Dr. Prescott 


__ 


one-fourth 


T. Sleddall for Midgley'f 


J 




John Barstow 


m m 


,on,e-jfourth 


Land 


__ 


one and a half 


John Ingham 





,<W£-feW& 


Mr. Smith 


__ 


one and a half 


Jonas Rish worth 


__ 


Anp-fo^th 


And also three in common 




Jonas Foster 


__ 


.9'i£ 


amongst Geo. Carter, J 


no. 




John Varley 


__ 


fffffi.-fw& 


Smith, J. Sucksmith, 




Peter Butterfield 


__ 


W-fo^tih 


Abram Moore, Lawrence 




Thomas Binns 


_ _ 


flAe.-foujib 


Ambler, Mary Hemming- 
174 




Fnri Ynri< 


• ^hf ee ai\d a ha^ 





REGISTERS IN THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



SITTINGS. 

Heirs of John Foster for Long 

House one half 

Michael Horsfall __ one half 

Timothy Horsfall __ one half 

Robert Holmes __ one 

Mary Horsfall __ one half 

John Whitaker __ one half 

William Appleyard __ one half 

Michael Driver __ one half 

Mich. Horsfall -, f „ i 
Tim. Horsfall I * or £, one and a half 
Mary Horsfall J lln S Park 
Edmund Ogden ; Michael 

Whitaker; Josh. Cording- 

ley ; Abraham Woodhead ; 

Gaugh Hall; Jeremy Sow- 
den ; Driver Field ; In- 

tacks ; Rigg School ; and 

all other small Farms not 



named before: in common 



two 



WILSDEN. 

Abraham Hill three 

Thomas and William Hill one and a half 
Widow Midgley one and one-fourth 

Richard Bartle's Farm __ one-fourth 

Isaac Kitching __ three-fourths 

John Lister of Shipley __ one half 

Mr. Edward Ferrand's Land two and a half 

Thomas and John Midgley one 

John Midgley __ one-fourth 

Thomas Rawson __ one- fourth 

Thos. Dobson and Pinfold one-fourth 

A. Denby end Jer. Smith one half 

Thomas Waters __ one half 

Chris. Waters for J. Drake one half 

Isaac Denby & Isaac Kitchen one half 

A Wilkinson __ one half 

Richard Wilkinson __ one 

Mr. Marsden's Land __ one half 
Bryan Sunderland's Ditto two & one-fourth 

Mrs. Butler's Ditto __ three-fourths 

Bayley's Ditto three 

Thomas Horsfield __ one-fourth 

Richard Waddington __ one-fourth 



HAWORTH. 

Mr. Midgley for his Land and 

School Land 
The Heirs of Mr. Ramsden 

and of Widow Holdsworth 



four 
five 



SITTINGS. 

Mr. John Holmes of Yeadon, 
for his Land 

The Heirs of Collier and Jo- 
seph Pighill's Land 

Thomas Midgley's Land 

James Hartley, Hall Green 

James Rishworth, Strobbing 

John Greenwood, Brighouse 

Caleb Heaton and Smith's 
Land of the Intack 

Michael Pighills and John 

Wright one and one-fourth 

Henry and John Ikoringill's 

Lands _ _ three.fourths 



two 

four 
one 
one 
one 
one 

one 



OXENHOPE. 

John Holmes, of Old Oxen* 

hope four 

Mr. Robert Ferrand and Mr. 

Francis Lyndley __ two 

Joseph Rishworth and Ben- 
jamin Rath two 

Richard Pighills three and one-third 

Titus Mitchell __ two-thirds 

John Heaton __one and a half 

Martha Feather one and a half 

Michael Pighills' Land one 

Robert Heaton's Ditto and 

Joseph Crabtree's Ditto one 

Thomas Rishworth and Par- 
kinson's Lands _- one 

Widow Hartley and John 

Mitchell's Land one 

Mr. Pollard ._ one half 

Tim. Horsfall's Land __ one half 

Bernard Hartley, John Pig- 
hills, and John Sutcliff »- two 

Widow Sutcliff and Buckley 
Lands 

Jonas Horsfall and William 

Ogden's Land three 

John Roberts, two'thirds, and 
Jonas Horsfall, of Yait 

Thomas Whitaker and Heirs 

of Samuel Midgley __ two 

John Murgatroyd's Land __ one 

Jonas Foster, jun. Ditto __ one 

Michael Ogden, Joseph Og* 
den, and William Haigh's 
Lands __ one 

James Hartley, James Raw 
son, and Jonas Driver's 



Land 
Joshua Feather, John Rish* 
worth, and John Whita* 
ker's Land 



two 



two 
175 



REGISTERS IN THE PARISH CHURCH, BRADFORD. 



Michael Hartley and Thomas 
Ackroyd's Land 

Jonas Haigh 

Abm. Farrer's Lands 

John Driver, Michael Driver, 
John Hartley, and Joseph 
Ogden's Lands 

Jonas Foster, Jonas Rishvvorth, 
and Tim. Mitchel's Lands 

Heirs of Matthew Foster, 
Jeremy Pearson, Ismael 
Ogden, Jonas Haigh, and 
Matthew Briggs' Lands __ 

Christopher Holmes, John 
Greenwood, and John Hea* 
ton, of Larne Close, Lands 



STANBURY. 

Robert Heaton and Andrew 

Heaton 
Robert Heaton, jun., George 

Taylor and Peter Heaton 

for Hill Top Lands 
William Heaton, James Raw 

son, and John Wilson's 

Lands 
Nicholas Dixon and Utley 

Lands 
Widow Taylor, one half, and 

Wm. IVlidgley's Lands __ 
N. Midgley, of Old Field, 

and Church Lands 
John Pighills, wheelwright, 

and Crabtree Lands 
Robert Pighills, Robert Tay 
• lor, John Holmes, and 

John Hanson's Lands -- 
John Redman, Robert Clay- 
ton, and Nathaniel Dixon, 

Coldknowe L mds 
James Smith's Lands 
John Clayton and Michael 

Moorhouse, of Moorhouse 

Lands 



one 
one half 
one half 



two 



two 



three 



two 
two 
two 
three 
two 

two 



two 
one 



Note I have given the above list of 

stall holders in the 17th century, as they were 
then the principal' land owners also of 
that time. As the Parish Church was 
re.pewed and re-alloted in 1705, the names 
given would be the property holders of 
Bradford and of the other villages in the 
parish, during the fifty years previous to 
that date. For this list I am indebted 
to a work by Dr. John Outhwaite, a 
name formerly well-known in Bradford, and 

176 



much respected. I will here also give the 
full title and contents of the book, as it 
may be of use to future Bradford anti- 
quaries. 

" Documents Relative to Bradford 
Church: — The Glebe Lands; The Great and 
Small Tythes; Together with theAllotment of 
the Pews in the Year 1705, etc., etc. 
Bradford: Thomas Inkersley, Courier 
Office. 1827." (Dedicated) "To John 
Wilmer Field, Esq., of Heaton House." 
Contents— Bradford Church. Small Tythes. 
Surplice Fees. A True Note and Terrier. 
Communion Plate. Benefactions, A Copy 
of the Deeds of Settlement: Archbishop 
and Patrons — Confirmation of same. A 
Copy of Deed of Settlement made by 
Peter Sunderland, Esq. An Act for 
Enlarging the Church-yard. Sir John 
Maynard's Valuation of the Tythes of 
Bradford, Manningham, Bowling, Wibsey, 
Bierley, Heaton, Clayton, Allerton.ca- 
Wilsden, Thornton, Eccleshill, Shipley, 
Haworth and Horton. 1638. An Ac. 
count of the Pews, Seats, and Sittings, 
as Assigned in Pursuance of the Com- 
mission granted by the Archbishop of York, 
in 1705: And also of the Allotment 
which took place before the church was 
pewed, and was then in Stalls or Stands." 
The latter is what I have given in the 
preceeding pages. 

In the present year, 1867, the church is 
being altered, and open pews or sittings 
erected. " On the removal of the old oak 
pews, the foundations of the nave pillars on 
the north side were found to be in such a 
decayed and unsatisfactory state that it v as 
thought advisable while the restoration was 
going on to have them taken out and solid 
ones substituted ; whereby to give a stability 
to that side for future ages. It has been a 
work of great and tedious labour, as the 
several columns have had to be supported 
with huge blocks of timber, and the progress 
has therefore been slow. This work being 
now accomplished, the floor solidly laid, and 
the pulpit being also removed to the north 
6ide of the chancel arch, the parishioners 
may congratulate themselves that by the 
new year they will again be congn j 
together within the precincts of the old 
sacred fane. The removal of the west gal. 
lery has imparted to the interior an imposing 
cathedral aspect— the east and west stained 
glass windows being fully exposed. Dcsciip. 
tion can scarcely do justice to the richness of 
- the west window when the rays of the setting 
sun are shed upon it. Its various groups are 
so harmonious, and its colours so neb, that 
the effect is superb." 



WORSTED MANUFACTURES OF BRADFORD. 



THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND PRE- 
SENT (1852) STATE OF THE 
WORSTED, ALPACA, AND 
MOHAIR MANUFACTURES*. 

By Henry Forbes, Esq. 

In the review of the various branches 
of our manufacture my object is to trace 
its gradual developement, to mark the 
successful application of enterprise, of 
invention, and of science ; and to convey 
some estimate of its present capabilities, 
and the prospects of its continued ad- 
vancement. 

The term "worsted stuffs " is applied 
to those manufactures into the composi- 
tion of which wool enters that has under- 
gone the process of combing, and includes 
those fabrics in which wool thus combed 
is combined with cotton and with silk. 
The name "worsted" is derived from a 
village in Norfolk, where these goods were 
first produced. It is scarcely necessary 
to remind the reader that these fabrics 
are carefully to be distinguished from 
" woollen cloths." the chief characteristic 
of which is, that they undergo the well- 
known process of " felting " er " fulling." 
In opening up a number of fleeces, a dis- 
tinction is easily observable between the 
wool of short and that of long staple. The 
short wool, if examined by a microscope, 
is noticeable for the number of little 
feathery serrations or imbrications on its 
surface, which enable the individual fibres 
to be locked into one another by the felt 
ing process ; and this wool is accordingly 
most used for the production of woollen 
cloths. The longer wool does not possess 
these serrations to the same extent, and 
is better suited for combing, the object of 
which is to unravel all the fibres, and lay 
them smooth and even. I may be par- 
doned for calling your attention to this 
distinction between the woollen and the 
worsted manufactures, as they have long 
oeen confounded in popular^ phraseology 
and historical records. 

From the earliest times of English 
history, wool has always been regarded as 
our great national raw material for woven 
goods. The mother of Alfred the Great 
is described, like the virtuous woman 

* This paper is abridged from a lecture 
delivered before the Society of Arts, May 
5th, 1852, by the late Henry Forbes, Esq. ; 
and what I have chosen relates chiefly, as 
will be seen, to the trade of Bradford and 
its manufactures. 

Holkoyd's Collectanea, No. 12. 



spoken of in the Book of Proverbs, as 
busying herself diligently in spinning 
wool. Of Edward the Elder an old chron- 
icler tells us, that whilst "hesette bis 
sons to schole, his daughters he sette to 
wool-werke." Nor was wool regarded 
with less favour by our early sovereigns 
as a means of replenishing the royal ex- 
chequer. No subsidies are more common 
as granted to the Crown than those on 
wool, and no articles more frequent sub- 
jects of legislative interference than wool 
and its manufactures. Amongst other 
instances of the wisdom of our ancestors, 
I may mention that it was at one time 
provided that no wool " should be sold to 
any man of Scotland, or to any other to 
carry into Scotland," under pain of life 
and member. A paternal government 
attempted to regulate the length, breadth, 
quality, and price of the cloth to be pro- 
duced, and prescribed the wages and diet 
of the artificers. 

There seems little doubt that the first 
great impulse to our manufactures from 
wool of all kinds was given by the pru- 
dence and patriotism of Edward III., who 
encouraged cloth-workers from Flanders 
to settle in Norfolk, York, Kendal, and 
other places. It is scarcely to an eccle- 
siastical writer that we should look for 
manufacturing details ; yet the witty Ful- 
ler, in the third book of his " Church 
History," so pleasantly describes this 
event, that I am sure you will pardon me 
for transcribing the passage :— 

" The king and state began now to grow 
sensible of the great gain the Netherlands 
got by our English avooI ; in memory 
whereof, the Duke of Burgundy, not long 
after, instituted the order of the Golden 
Fleece ; wherein, indeed, the fleece was 
ours, the golden theirs, so vast their emol- 
ument by the trade of clothing. Our king 
therefore resolved, if possible, to reduce 
the trade to his own country, who as yet 
were ignorant of that art, as knowing no 
more what to do with their wool than the 
sheep that wear it, as to any artificial and 
curious drapery ; their best clothes then 
being no better than friezes, such their 
coarseness for want of skill in their 
making. But soon after followed a great 
alteration, and we shall enlarge ourselves 
in the manner thereof. The intercourse 
now being great betwixt the English and 
the Netherlands (increased of late, since 
King Edwardlmarried the daughter of the 
Earl of Hainault), unsuspected emissaries 
were employed by our king into those 
countries, who wrought themselves into 

177 



RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE 



familiarity with such Dutchmen as were 
absolute masters of their trade, but not 
masters of themselves, as cither journey- 
men or apprentices. These bemoaned the 
slavishness of these poor servants, whom 
their masters used rather like heathens 
than Christians, yea, rather like horses 
than men ! Early up and late in bed, and 
all day hard work, and harder fare (a few 
herrings and mouldy cheese), and all to 
enrich the churls their masters, without 
any profit unto themselves. But oh, how 
happy should they be if they would but 
come over into England, bringing their 
nrystery with them, which would provide 
their welcome in all places ! Here they 
should feed on fat beef and mutton, till 
nothing but their fulness should stint their 
stomachs ; yea, they should feed on the 
labours of their own hands, enjoying a 
proportionable profit of their pains to 
themselves ; their beds should be good 
and their bedfellows better, seeing the 
richest yeomen in England would not dis- 
dain to marry their daughters unto them ; 
and such the English beauties, that the 
most envious foreigners could not but 
commend them. Liberty is a lesson 
quickly conned by heart ; men having a 
principle within themselves to prompt 
them, in case they forget it. Persuaded 
with the premisses, many Dutch servants 
leave their masters and make over for 
England. Their departure thence (being 
picked here and there) made no sensible 
vacuity, but their meeting here all together 
amounted to a considerable fulness. With 
themselves, they brought over their trade 
and their tools ; namely, such which could 
not as yet be so conveniently made in 
England. Happy the yeoman's house 
into which one of these Dutchmen did 
enter, bringing industry and wealth along 
with them. Such who came in strangers 
within their doors, soon after went out 
bridegrooms, and returned sons-in-law, 
having married the daughters of their 
landlords who first entertained them. 
Yea, those yeomen in whose houses they 
harboured soon proceeded gentlemen, 
gaining great estates to themselves, arms 
and worship to their estates." 

There is no doubt that the manufacture 
of worsted stuffs was introduced or im- 
proved at this time; for in the account of 
exports in the 2Hth year of Edward IIl.'s 
reign, we find mention of " 8061 ^ pieces 
of worsted, at Kb 1 . 8d. per piece.'' The 
county of Norfolk became then, and con- 
tinued for four centuries, the main Beat 
and centre of the trade. Permission was 

178 



given in the 13th year of Richard II. to 
the merchants and artificers of worsted in 
Norfolk, " to sell their single worsted to 
any place or persons being of the king's 
amity, notwithstanding any inhibition or 
liberty to the contrary." In 1439, four 
wardens of worsted weavers were appointed 
to be chosen yearly for the city of Nor- 
wich, and other four within the county 
of Norfolk, to set down orders for the 
true making of worsteds within Norwich, 
Norfolk, and Suffolk. In the 5th year 
of Henry VIII. an act was passed bearing 
the title, "An Act to avoid Deceits in 
Worsted :"— avery desirable object, doubt- 
less, yet one scarcely attainable by legal 
enactment. The production of these 
goods gradually spread into various other 
counties, although Norfolk still maintained 
its pre-eminence. In the reign of Queen 
Mary permission was given, for the first 
time, to the inhabitants of Halifax to buy 
wool, and retail it out for the benefit of 
poor craftsmen there. The cruel perse- 
cutions of the Duke of Alva drove over a 
large number of Dutch and other artisans, 
who settled both in Norfolk and in York- 
shire, and greatly promoted the growth of 
the worsted trade. Particular mention is 
made of the says, camlets, and other 
fabrics they produced. Bombazines were 
introduced in 1575, and damasks shortly 
after. So greatly did all this tend to the 
prosperity of the city of Norwich, that it 
was at that period the wealthiest manu- 
facturing town in the kingdom ; and when 
Queen Elizabeth visited it in 1578, we are 
informed by the city records that a grand 
pageant was exhibited, representing seven 
looms weaving worsted, russels, darnic, 
<fcc, with various devices; and that her 
majesty particularly examined the knit- 
ting and spinning of the children, perused 
the looms, and noted the several works 
and commodities that were made. It was 
under circumstances like these that the 
worsted trade first started into existence 
and importance. 

It would be tedious to enter into any 
details of the progress of this manufacture 
during the next two centuries ; but little 
alteration was made, either in the fabrics 
produced or in the methods of their 
production. The districts of the kingdom 
where the manufacture was carried on 
were, indeed, greatly extended, and the 
amount of fabrics produced considerably 
increased. I find records of this manu- 
facture as existing from the middle to the 
close of last century, in eighteen or nine- 
teen different English counties, extending 



WORSTED MANUFACTURES OF BRADFORD. 



from Cornwall to Durham. This exten 
sion was particularly noticeahle in refer- 
ence to Bradford, Halifax, and other towns 
in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which 
previously had heen celehrated for woollen 
rather than for worsted goods. The 
great epoch, however, in the history of 
the worsted trade was the introduction, 
about the year 1790, of the spinning ma 
chinery, which had already began to revo- 
lutionise the cotton trade. 

The manufacturing processes at this 
period were characterised by the most 
primitive and arcadian simplicity' and a 
degree of "slowness" which, in these 
railway times, we can scarcely realise. 
The work was entirely domestic, and its 
different branches widely scattered over 
the country. First, the manufacturer had 
to travel on horseback to purchase his 
raw material amongst the farmers, or at 
the great fail's held in those old towns 
that had formerly been the exclusive 
markets, or, as they were called, " staples" 
of wool. The wool safely received was 
handed over to the sorters, who rigorously 
applied their guage of required length of 
staple, and mercilessly chopped Up by the 
shears or hatchet what did not reach their 
standard, as wool fit only for the clothing 
trade. The long wool then passed into 
the hands of the combers ; and having 
been brought back by them in the combed 
state (technically called "top"), was 
again carefully packed, and strapped on 
the back of the sturdy horse, to be taken 
into the country to be spun. For this end 
the West Riding manufacturer had not 
only to visit the villages in the immediate 
neighbourhood of Halifax, Bradford, &c, 
but used periodically to traverse the ro- 
mantic hills and dales of Craven. Here 
at each village he had his agents, who 
received the wool, distributed it amongst 
the peasantry, and received it back as 
yarn. The machine employed was still 
the old one-thread wheel ; and in summer 
weather, on many a village green, or hill 
side might be seen the housewives plying 
their busy trade, and furnishing to the 
poet the vision of " Contentment spinning 
at the cottage door." Returning in safety 
with his yarn, the manufacturer had now 
to seek out his weavers, who ultimately 
delivered to him his camlets, or russels, 
or serges, or tammies, or calimancoes 
(such were then the names of the leading 
fabrics), ready for sale to the merchant or 
delivery to the dyer. 

It was in the year 1790 that the first 
spinning- jenny was put up in Bradford, 



in the private house of Mr. Garnett, a 
spinner, whose family still maintain a 
deserved eminence in the trade. Of course 
it was worked by hand. About the same 
period similar machinery was introduced 
into Halifax and the neighbourhood. The 
first, factory erected in Bradford was in 
1793, and loud and manifold were the pre- 
dictions of ruin that accompanied it. The 
extension of machinery and the improve- 
ment of mill yarn advanced slowly, but 
steadily. From a variety of causes, the 
manufacturers of Norwich did not avail 
themselves of the improved processes 
which the inventions of the spinning- frame 
and the application of steam power 
brought out; and, consequently, the spin- 
ning of worsted yarn passed gradually 
from Norfolk to Yorkshire. About 1813, 
Messrs. James Akroyd and Son, of Hali- 
fax, who have always been noted for their 
energy and enterprise, produced the arti- 
cles known by the names of wildbores and 
plainbacks, from which sprung the single- 
twilled merinos. Moreens for hangings 
were introduced very shortly afterwards. 
The production of yarn by 'steam-power 
soon exceeded the capabilities of the hand- 
loom weavers, and about 1825, not without 
riots and alarms, power-looms began to be 
made use of in the worsted trade. It is 
somewhat singular, that just about the 
same time the duty on the export of Eng- 
lish wool (a duty that had formed the 
subject of almost endless controversy 
between the farmers and the manufactu- 
rers, in which, reversing the present state 
of things, the manufacturers were pro- 
tectionists and the farmers were for free 
trade)! this duty was reduced to the 
almost nominal rate of Id. per lb., to be 
entirely done away in 1844. From 1825 
to 1830 a great improvement, introduced 
by Messrs. Edward Ripley and Son, the 
eminent dyers of Bradford, took place in 
the methods of dyeing and finishing; 
and machinery was introduced into this 
department also. Amongst these machines 
may be mentioned the apparatus for " set- 
ting" worsted goods, or preventing them 
from shrinking up; a work previously 
done by hand, slowlj and inefficiently. 
Up to this time all goods had been dried 
almost instantaneously, by being caused 
to pass over cylinders heated by steam. 
Nearly all the goods made hitherto had 
been finished with a glazed surface. In 
the year 1808 a county ball was given at 
York, where the rank and fashion of the 
district were arrayed in dresses of " tam- 
my, "an article now used only as a lining 

179 



RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE 



for window-curtains. But at the time of 
which I am speaking there was substi- 
tuted for this glossy surface, in the fabric 
called " merinor," a finish soft, full, and 
elastic, that soon made it an article of 
large demand. A still greater impetus 
was communicated to the trade in 1834 by 
the introduction of cotton warps, which 
created great consternation amongst some 
of our wool- dealers and manufacturers at 
first, as threatening the destruction of the 
old-established fabrics from wool alone. 
Economy of production was by this means 
combined with fineness of texture ; and 
the combination of silk warp with worsted 
weft, which followed shortly after, enabled 
the Yorkshire manufacturer to exhibit 
fabrics in which delicacy, softness, and 
elasticity were united. Nor must I forget 
to mention that the adaptation of the 
Jacquard to the worsted manufacture had 
qualified the makers of damask of Halifax 
and its vicinity for the production of ela- 
borate and tasteful designs, at a compar- 
atively cheap cost. 

It was in 1880 that a new raw material 
was brought into use in the Bradford trade 
destined speedily to become one of its 
most important features. The existence 
of an animal called Alpaca, half camel and 
half sheep, had long been known to travel- 
lers and naturalists ; and, indeed, tradition 
reports that Pizarro had brought back 
specimens of its wool on his first return 
from Peru, together witb textures made 
from it by the natives. But up to the 
period I have mentioned, this wool, as an 
article of commerce, had attracted little 
notice ; and to Mr. Titus Salt, of Brad- 
ford, belongs the honour of having pro- 
perly estimated its capabilities, and 
perfected its adaptation. The animal is 
of the llama tribe, and is found only in 
the mountain regions of the northern part 
of Peru, the table-land about four hun- 
dred miles from the sea-coast. It cannot 
live in thejlow lands near the sea. It is 
gregarious, but not kept in large flocks 
like sheep, and requires considerable care. 
The attempts to naturalise this animal in 
England have not hitherto been success- 
ful. His late Royal Highness Prince 
Albert, with his characteristic patriotism 
and love of science, paid much attention 
to its culture and adaptation to our cli- 
mate ; but his efforts have not realised 
the result we could have desired . The 
late Earl of Derby's flock, now in the 
hands of Mr. Salt, are thriving; but still 
I cannot indulge the hope that' the alpaca 
is likely to become a stock animal in this 

180 



country. The humidity of our climate is 
generally believed to be the main cause of 
our failure. Some years ago, six hundred 
alpacas where shipped from Peru to Liver- 
pool ; but so unskilfully had the arrange- 
ments been made for the accommodation, 
that only six survived the voyage. 
Alarmed at this shipment, the Pernviau 
Government issued an edict, prohibiting 
their exportation for the future ; and when, 
last year, some enterprising Australian 
colonists attempted to procure a cargo, 
they were obliged to return disappointed. 
The wool, or hair, of the alpaca is of 
various shades of black, white, grey, 
brown, &c, and is pre-eminently distin- 
guishable for its brightness and lustre, 
its extreme softness, and great length of 
staple. A specimen shown in the Great 
Exhibition, 1851, by Messrs. Walter 
Milligan and Son, of Biugley, was forty- 
two inches in length ; but this must have 
been of many years' growth. Consider- 
able difficulties were at first experienced 
in the working up of this material into 
yarn, but patience, perseverance, and 
skill, ultimately overcame them; and at 
the present time, in combination with 
warps of cotton or of silk, it forms an 
amazing variety of articles of great rich- 
ness, softness, and beauty. The advance 
in its consumption may be estimated 
from the fact, that whilst in the five years 
from 1836 to 1840, only 5(10,000 lbs. per 
annum were imported, in 1851 the import 
had reached 27,331 ballots, or 2,186,480 
lbs. weight ; and the advance in price has 
been from 10^. per lb. in 1836, to 2$. M. 
per lb. in 1852. 

Nearly contemporaneous with the in- 
troduction of alpaca wool, was the bring- 
ing into general use in Yorkshire of an 
article similar in many of its properties — 
mohair, or goats' mane. This article is of 
very ancient use in manufactures, having 
been employed, as we are taught in the 
Book of Exodus, for the furniture and 
covering of the Jewish Tabernacle. 
The wool is grown in the neighbourhood 
of Angora, in the centre of Asia Minor, 
and is brought from thence on the backs 
of camels to Constantinople for shipment. 
It is singular, that although many attempts 
have been made to extend its growth be- 
yond this immediate district they have 
hitherto entirely failed. Formerly yarn 
was spun by hand in Turkey itself to a 
large extent, and exported to France ; but 
English-spun mohair yarn has now entire- 
ly superseded it. The export of this yarn 
to France in 1850, amounted to 400,000 



WORSTED MANUFACTURES OF BRADFORD. 



lbs. : and in Germany its consumption is 
greatly increasing. It is manufactured in 
Yorkshire, chiefly into articles for ladies' 
dresses, of great softness, lustre, and 
brilliancy. On the Continent, and in 
Borne parts of England, there is a large 
and increasing production from this arti- 
cle of what is called Utrecht velvet, for 
hangings, furniture, liuings of carriages, 
<fec. In 1841 the importation of mohair 
was 1,011,780 lbs.: in 1851 it had in- 
creased to 1,943,280 lbs. 

It will be readily conceived that the 
introduction of these new raw materials, 
cotton, silk, alpaca, wool, and mohair, 
added wonderfully to the capabilities of 
the manufacture, and increased immensely 
the number and variety of the fabrics 
produced. A corresponding increase was 
wanted in the powers of the dyer, nor was 
this long sought in vain. In no depart- 
ment of the trade has improvement been 
more marked than in the resources of 
chemical science, which the enterprise and 
skill of the dyers of worsted stuffs have 
brought to bear upon it. Tbe processes 
for the dyeing of cotton alone had, of 
course, been long known; although the 
colours produced in cotton had never, 
generally speaking, been so bright and 
effective as on fabrics made entirely from 
wool. The combination however, of wool 
and cotton in the same piece rendered 
necessary more varied and inti-ieate oper- 
ations. At first, the cotton warps were 
all dyed previously to being woven ; it 
being considered that the nature of the 
two substances, cotton and wool, one 
vegetable and the other animal, was so 
dissimilar, that to dye them together in 
the piece was impracticable. Various 
attempts and experiments were neverthe- 
less made ; first the dyeing of blacks, then 
of dark colours, and ultimately of lighter 
shades, was accomplished : and the result 
has been, that goods made of white cotton 
warp and worsted weft can be dyed quite 
as perfect in colour as French merinos 
composed of wool alone. We are accus- 
tomed to look upon our French neighbours 
as taking the lead in the science of chern 
istry applied to manufacturing purposes, 
and I do not wish for one moment to 
detract from their well-earned reputation ; 
but, speaking as a practical man, I am 
bound to say, that our dyers are now able 
to accomplish that, in reference to mixed 
fabrics, which has never yet been attained 
by dyers on the Continent. 

The last improvement which requires 
now to be mentioned is one made only 



within the last few years, and which is 
just at present coming into general use. 
I allude to the adaptation of machinery 
for wool-combing. Many attempts have 
been made for years back to overcome the 
difficulties connected with this operation, 
and there are several machines now in 
existence that have successfully solved the 
problem. A brief mention of one or two 
of them will suffice. 

In the department of Machinery in the 
Great Exhibition, 1851, a Council medal 
was awarded to Mr. Donisthorpe for a very 
curious and admirable combing-machine 
shown by him. The nicety of its mechan- 
ical adaptations, and the ease and regu- 
larity with which it perforins its work, 
fully entitle this machine to the honours 
it has received. It is mainly adapted for 
the combing of Saxony, Colonial, and fine 
English wool. Another machine, patented 
by Mr. C. A. Preller, for the working up 
of similar descriptions of wool is in con- 
siderable use in Bradford, and although 
very different from Mr. Donisthorpe's, is 
highly commendable for the work which 
it produces. Mr. Preller was the first to 
employ for his machine the heat of steam, 
instead of the direct heat of charcoal — a, 
process which is said to give somewhat 
more elasticity to the wool, and enable it 
to be spun with less twist. It can be 
worked (as can also a late improvement of 
Mr. Donisthorpe) without the use of either 
heat or oil ; and although the general 
opinion of the Yorkshire manufacturers is 
that the nature of wool requires both, yet 
the example of the Continental manufac- 
turers, who employ no oil, and attribute 
to this circumstance the cleanness and 
brilliancy of many of their colours, de- 
serves our careful consideration. These 
two machines, as I have stated, are used 
chiefly for the combing of short and fine 
wool : they are capable of producing each 
about 250 lbs. of such wool in the combed 
state per day ; a work that would require 
the labour of at least one hundred men by 
hand. A greater proportion of combed 
wool, moreover, is obtainable from them 
than can be got by hand : 16 lbs. of fine 
raw wool giving by hand only 7 to 8 lbs. 
of " top " or combed wool, whilst from the 
machine 8j to 10 lbs. are produced. The 
short wool thrown out in the process, 
technically called "noils," is worth 2d. 
per lb. more from the machine than by 
hand : for the wool being carded before it 
is put through the comb, is cleared from 
all filth, burrs, &c, and comes out per- 
fectly white. And, finally, the combed 

181 



RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE 



wool itself is considered superior to hand 
work, as being freer from knots, and more 
regular and even. The machine of Mr. 
Collier is employed in England almost 
exclusively for tire working up of a differ- 
ent class of wool, chiefly from Lincoln- 
shire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Lei- 
cestershire, where the wool is deep-grown 
or of long staple. It will produce from 
:j00 to 400 lbs. of top per day. From 
English wool a larger percentage of 
combed wool is obtainable than from 
Saxony or Colonial: this machine gives 
12| to 13 lbs. out of 16, instead of 11 to 
11$ by hand. Scotch, Russian, and other 
low wools, formerly almost valueless, are 
also worked up sucessfully by it. One 
great advantage, indeed, of all these comb- 
ing machines is, that they enable the 
manufacturer to bring into use wools, 
both very coarse and very fine, which 
were formerly unsuited to his trade. An- 
other great point is, that the work can be 
done by them at less than one-half the 
cost of hand labour. For some kinds of 
yarn, and with certain descriptions of 
English wool, hand-combing is still pre- 
ferred by many spinners : but as succes- 
sive improvements will doubtless be made, 
there can be little doubt that the machines 
are destined for almost universal use. 

Such is a brief record of the successive 
developements of the worsted stuff manu 
facture ; it may be interesting for us now 
to look at the result of all these improve- 
ments, and the present capabilities of this 
section of our national industry. 

Perhaps few things are more remarkable 
than the rapid increase of the population 
employed in, or dependent upon it. The 
town of Bradford is the great centre of 
the manufacture, and the great market 
for the disposal of its productions. The 
population of the district now included 
within the borough of Bradford, was, 
In 1801 .... 13,204 
1811 it had increased to . 16,012 
1821 . . . • 26,30!) 
1831 . . . . 43,527 
1841 . . . . 66,718 
1851 . . • . 103,782 
That is to say, whilst the increase in the 
whole population of the United Kingdom 
in the fifty years from 1801 to 1851 was 
98 per cent, the increase in Bradford has 
been seven times as great, or (582 per cent. 
Up 1o the year 1834, the woollen and 
worsted trades were mixed up together in 
onr Parliamentary returns. In 1835, 
when the first distinct estimate was made, 
it was calculated that there were under 
182 



16,000 employed in all tbe worsted facto- 
ries throughout the kingdom, subject to 
the regulations of the Factory Act. From 
that to 1839 they had increased 98 per 
cent ; the advance of 1850 on 1839 was 
152 per cent. The official retnrn, pre- 
pared in I8 r >() by the Factory Inspectors, 
shows that there were then employed 
within the walls of the various mills 
79,737 persons ; of these, Yorkshire em- 
ployed 65,261, and of these again 
There were in Bradford . . 33,515 
Halifax . . 15,225 
Keighlev . . 4,460 
Bingley* . . 2,847 
Wakefield . . 1,377 
The remainder were distributed over ad- 
jacent villages and in other counties, 
chiefly Leicester and Norfolk. To these 
should be added a large number of per- 
sons employed in Lancashire in the man- 
ufacture of mousseline de laines, and other 
light worsted fabrics, and who in the 
Factory returns are included under the 
department of cotton. It must be borne 
in mind, that these are only the hands 
employed within the factory ; to them must 
be added all the wool-sorters, combers, 
hand-loom weavers, dyers, <fec, employed 
out of the factory. If, as a moderate cal- 
culation, we reckon 50 per cent for such 
that is, one worker employed out for two 
in — we shall find that there are at the least 
120,000 people directly employed in this 
department of industry, 

The total number of factories in the 
worsted trade in 1850 was 501 ; of spin- 
dles, 875,830; of power-looms, 32,617; 
and the moving power employed was equal 
to 11,515 horses. Since that time, the 
increase has been going rapidly ou, new 
factories are still rising up, and new ma- 
chinery is still being prepared 

A distinguishing feature in the worsted 
trade is the variety of fabrics produced, 
and the diversity of purposes to which 
they can be applied. In the classification 
adopted by Dr. Playfair for the use of the 
jurors in the Great Exhibition, they are 
divided into live parts, having reference 
to the materials of which they are com- 
posed, viz. : — 

Fabrics composed entirely of wool 
,, ,, of wool and cotton 

,, ,, of wool and silk 

,, ,, of wool, silk, and cot- 

ton 
,, of alpaca and mohair, 
mixed with cotton 
or silk. 
The first division includes the old fa- 



WORSTED MANUFACTURES OF BRADFORD. 



brics called says, serges, slialloons, list- 
ings, and other stout and heavy articles, 
largely consumed in the export trade. It 
also includes damasks for furniture and 
hangings, made chiefly at Halifax ; and 
single-twilled merinos, which up to the 
year 1836 was the main article sold for 
ladies' dresses. Under the second head 
arc comprised the two fabrics known as 
Cobourg and Orleans cloths, the produc- 
tion of which is immense. The silk- warp 
and worsted-weft goods are rich and du- 
rable, and include the elegant productions 
of the Norwich looms. The alpaca and 
mohair manufactures are carried on chiefly 
at Bradford and Bingley, and are used 
very largely for ladies' and children's 
dresses, for coatings, vestings, linings, 
umbrella and parasol cloths, &c, etc. 

Of the total yearly value of the worsted 
manufactures produced, it is impossible to 
form anything more than an approximate 
estimate. No reliable data exist from 
which to form a definite calculation of the 
raw material consumed. We know, in- 
deed, that the importation of wool from 
foreign countries and our Australian colo- 
nies has increased from 13,000,000 of lbs. 
weight in 1815, to 81,000,000 of lbs. in 
1851. But of the growth of British wool 
we have scarcely anything precise and 
accurate. Mr. Southey, an eminent 
wool-broker in London, has made some 
very elaborate calculations on this subject, 
and the result he brings out is a yearly 
growth of 228,000,000 of lbs. weight. 

One point more remains to be briefly 
dealt with. We have seen the various 
improvements and inventions which, fol- 
lowing each other in such quick succes- 
sion, have brought the worsted trade to its 
present point of progress and prosperity. 
There can be no question that these have 
developed our national resources, and 
added to our national wealth ; but what 
has been their influence on the great 
masses of the people employed in the 
manufacture? We know, it may be said, 
that the landowner has been benefited, for 
his rental has been largely augmented; 
that the farmer has derived great advan- 
tage, for his wool has been increased in 
quantity, as well as raised in price ; that 
the manufacturer himself has attained to 
wealth and eminence. But what have 
been their results, economically, socially, 
and morally, on the toiling thousands 
dependent on the trade for their daily 
bread ? 

I have described the processes of man- 
ufacture carried on towards the close of 



the last century, before the introduction 
of machinery and steam-power. There 
are some persons who affect to look back 
upon that period with regret, and lament 
over the loss of domestic comfort, simple 
manners, and social happiness which, they 
say, our manufacturing system has caused. 
And they delight to draw a glowing pic- 
ture of the time when, amidst the quiet 
scenes of nature, far from the smoky 
town and the clatter of machinery, the 
spinner and weaver followed their honest 
calling in the bosom of their families ; not 
wasted in their physical strength of ex- 
cessive toil, nor ground down to the dust 
by the rapacity of tyrannical masters, but 
earning a comfortable competency by 
moderate labour ; not a turbulent, infidel, 
and Chartist, but a contented, religious, 
and loyal peasantry, 

Such a picture is a fable, not a fact. 
There can be no question, from all the 
records and traditions of the trade, that 
the physical comforts of the artisan have 
been vastly increased, and his social posi- 
tion greatly elevated. In 1787, the aver- 
age rate of wages paid in the worsted 
trade, in fifteen counties, was 3s. 3d. per 
week. I have heard the testimony of old 
men, that, a little later, 5s. a-week for a 
weaver was accounted a great accomplish- 
ment. And this, be it remembered, when 
a stone of flour, weighing 16 lbs., cost the 
working-man from 3s. to 3s. od. At the 
present time, with flour at 2s. per stone— 
with other articles of provision reduced in 
proportion— with articles of clothing one- 
third at least of their former price, the 
average wages at Bradford of all factory- 
workers, men, women, and children, is 
10s. per week. Nor is the amelioration 
in then- social condition less real. I know, 
indeed, that there is still great room for 
sanitary, for educational, for religious 
improvement ; for ventilation and smoke - 
consumption; for the clearing away of 
crowded alleys, the opening of parks, 
museums, and libraries, the letting in the 
light of heaven, literally and spiritually, 
on dark and benighted dwellings. I say 
not that there are no grasping masters — 
men ignorant or regardless of their high 
moral obligations ; but I do say, that these 
are the exception, not the rule : that we 
have among us many noble " captains of 
industry," between whom and their work- 
people there is some other connexion than 
a mere money -payment ; who study to 
promote their welfare and elevation, and 
whose efforts are met by a frank confi- 
dence and a grateful recognition ; and I 

183 



WORSTED MANUFACTURES OF BRADFORD. 



could take you to thousands of homes iu 
the West Riding, where not only honest 
labour meets -with its due pecuniary re- 
ward, but where comfort, cleanliness, and 
intelligence prevail ; homes radient with 
happiness, and many of them hallowed by 
religion. It has been tauntingly said, 
that English manufacturers regard it as 
their great and only mission to produce 
cloth at a fraction below the rest of the 
world. I may be permitted to make use 
of an expression employed by a great 
statesman, aud say, that I am proud to 
stand by my order ; that we do accept it 
as our mission to provide clothing for the 
world ; and that, in thus making nature 
minister to physical comfort, we are pro- 
moting peace, and extending civilisation, 
and working out the designs of a divine 
and beneficent Providence. If we are 
doing this conscientiously, with high aims 
and noble purposes, with a deep sense of 
our duty and a sincere effort to discharge 
it, we shall pursue industry in the some 
spirit in which Lord Bacon teaches us to 
study philosophy, — "for the glory of Clod 
and tho good of man's estate." 

NOTE. 

Mr. Henry Forbes, of the firm of Milli- 
gan, Forbes and Co., died at Harrogate, 
on the 16th October, 1870.— Of Scottish 
ancestry, he was of Yorkshire birth, and 
was proud of the double distinction. His 
family had been for many years tenant- 
farmers under the Faueonbergs, a house 
the head of which, iu the days of James 
II., had been dismissed from the Lord 
Lieutenancy of the East Riding ou ac- 
count of his Protestant principles, and 
Mr. Forbes retained through life both his 
Yorkshire and his Protestant predilections. 
He was born in the neighbourhood of 
Easiugwold on the 24th January, 179-1. 
When he was about eleven years of age, 
his father, through the interest of Lord 
Lascelles, received an appointment of 
some value in the Customs. The educa- 
tion of the youth was carefully provided 
for by his parents, who sent him to a 
boarding school at York, where he re- 
mained for some years, and acquired a 
respectable amount of learning, and a 
fondness for reading, which he never lost. 
Iu 1807 he was sent to London, as an ap 
preutico to Messrs. Leaf and Severs, 
afterwards Leaf, Severs and Coles, then 
in Fleet-street, subsequently iu Old 
Change. Here his industry and intelli 
gonce recommended him to the notice of 
his employers, and he quickly rose from 
184 



the humble situation of a shop-boy to the 
confidential post of buyer and general 
manager. Whilst in London he was in- 
troduced by a mutual friend to the late 
Mr. Robert Milligan, who had been for 
some years resident in Bradford, and by 
great shrewdness, unwearying industry, 
and patient perseverance, had laid the 
foundation of his future success and hon- 
ours. Mr. Milligan appreciated Mr. 
Forbes's capabilities, engaged him as his 
assistant, and ere long took him into 
partnership. Mr. Forbes settled in Brad- 
ford in 1817, and devoted all his energies 
to the development of the new business. 
The worsted manufacture had already 
commenced its departure from Norfolk to 
Halifax and Bradford. Its merchant ser- 
vice had been organised in Leeds, and was 
then regarded as auxiliary to that of 
woollen cloths rather than as an indepen- 
dent trade. We need not repeat the old 
story of how the worsted branch of the 
trade, following what philosophers now-a- 
days call ' the law of natural selection,' 
set up an independent business, and set- 
tled itself in this district- 
When the scheme of the Great Exhibi- 
tion of 1851 first came out, Mr. Forbes 
gave it his zealous adhesion, addressed 
large public meetings in its favour, and 
as Chairman of the Bradford Committee, 
conducted the local preparations. The 
result was emiueutly successful, and a 
knowledge of our manufactures was then 
disseminated which tended greatly to the 
advancement of many branches of the 
Bradford trade. In 1852 the Council of 
the Society of Arts iu Loudon (with whom 
the Exhibition had originated) got up a 
series of lectures in their hall on the vari- 
ous branches of manufacturing industry 
that had been displayed ; and Mr. Forbes 
was called upon to take his share in the 
work. He accordingly delivered in May 
of that year, a lecture on " The Rise, Pro- 
gress, and present state of the Worsted, 
Alpaca, and Mohair Manufactures of 
England," which was very cordially re- 
ceived by the audience. Mr. Cobdeu 
moved, and Colonel Thompson seconded 
a vote of thanks to him on that occasion, 
and bore testimony to the character of the 
lecturer, as well as of the interest of the 
subject. The lecture, which was pub- 
lished by tin society, is now somewhat 
curious as a record of the progress then 
attained, and it would not be amiss if 
some competent person would continue 
the history. 

END. 



i IRRARY OF CONGRESS i 

lillllElMMH 

021 399 139 5 



